HUGO Swire, East Devon s Tory MP, lead a delegation of parliamentarians and councillors to Whitehall to lobby against a single unitary authority.

HUGO Swire, East Devon's Tory MP, lead a delegation of parliamentarians and councillors to Whitehall to lobby against a single unitary authority.

Last Thursday they met with Rosie Winterton MP, minister for local government, to demand an end to the proposals.

Mr Swire was joined by fellow Devon Conservative MPs including Geoffrey Cox QC, Anthony Steen and Gary Streeter

Also joining him were members from councils across Devon including Ray Franklin, Mike Hicks, Andrew Leadbetter, James McInnes, James Morrish, Peter Hare-Scott and David Brailey.

Mr Swire said: "(Shadow minister for local Government )...Bob Neill MP has clearly stated that if there was a change of Government, the Conservatives will take all steps to reverse that decision, even if the present Government have had the temerity to pass it into law...

"With the General Election just around the corner it is clearly now time to call an end to this protracted, costly and unpopular...reorganisation.