DARWEN MP Jake Berry is at loggerheads with his Labour challenger Will Straw over giving the town independence from Blackburn.

The row broke out between the two rivals after Sudell councillor Roy Davies said he wanted a separate local authority for the historic market town.

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When Mr Straw, son of Blackburn MP Jack, addressed Darwen Town Council, Coun Davies asked if he would support a breakaway authority.

Mr Straw, prospective Labour candidate for Rossendale and Darwen at next year’s general election, replied: “I am in favour of devolving power away from London and the South-East. I think that would be most effective to city regions, in this case East Lancashire.

“We have the example of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.”

Coun Davies responded: “That means ‘no’ then.”

Mr Straw said after the meeting: “I think the best way to bring investment and jobs to Darwen is to devolve power to councils in the wider East Lancashire area rather than having a separate Darwen authority. We do need to devolve power to the North West and nearer to people.”

Tory MP Mr Berry said: “I support greater independence for Darwen. Every time power is devolved to the town away from the thrall of Blackburn with Darwen borough, it has benefited its residents.

“Rossendale, which is only slightly bigger in population, has its own council, so why shouldn’t Darwen?”

Coun Davies said: “Mr Straw rejected independence for Darwen. Before 1974 we had our own council so I think it would still work on those boundaries.”

He also told Mr Straw, whose hour in the hot seat followed Mr Berry’s appearance in August, that the borough used the Darwen precept to subsidise Blackburn.

Coun Davies said the charge, which varies from £9.60 for a small Band A house through £14.40 for a normal-sized home in Band D to £28.80 for a large property in Band H, should be spent on additional services for the town.

He accused the borough of diverting part of the £120,000 it raised to pay for mainstream council activities which meant Darreners were subsidising Blackburn residents.

Mr Straw said: “This squabbling between Blackburn and Darwen does not help. It diminishes Darwen.”