COLD water has been poured on the idea of a One Yorkshire devolution deal following a Commons debate yesterday evening.

Keighley and Ilkley MP John Grogan was backing top-level demands for Yorkshire to receive long-awaited devolved powers and a £150 million annual budget.

He called the debate in Parliament in support of 17 Yorkshire councils, who are calling for a deal covering as much of the county as possible and involving a new elected mayor.

Mr Grogan, secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Yorkshire, said a so-called One Yorkshire deal would create the second most powerful mayor in the UK after Sadiq Khan in London.

He said One Yorkshire would have a budget of about £150 million a year to spend on areas like transport, schooling and economic development.

He added: “This is money currently spent by Whitehall.

“I do think we are in danger of losing out to places with mayors, like Manchester and the West Midlands, who are now very strong advocates for their areas.”

Mr Grogan said Yorkshire has an identity recognised throughout the world, and the county could capitalise on that.

Council leaders are seeking a meeting with Northern Powerhouse minister, Jake Berry, to discuss the proposals.

Mr Grogan said the latest bid had the backing of 17 out of Yorkshire’s 20 councils.

He said: "We need a strong political voice in Yorkshire to argue for things like better transport. Only £1 per head spent in Yorkshire as compared to £10 per head in London. And we are 20 per cent more likely to die in Yorkshire, young, than in London.

"We need a strong political voice to change things in our society."

He added he had written to the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, asking him to call a meeting of all those involved in the devolution process so progress can be made.

"The Archbishop of York's office has responded. He will closely examine the proposals of the 17 councils and will be in contact with Bishops of Leeds and Sheffield about the most appropriate course of action to take.

"All these 17 councils is asking for is talks which the Minister has not yet conceded."

The debate was supported by Batley and Spen Labour MP Tracy Brabin who added: "Didn't we start with a proposition for a West Yorkshire Mayor, then a lesser Yorkshire mayor and a greater Yorkshire mayor?

"It seems to me that we should be less about the political colour of the mayor and more about councillors and politicians working together to make a swift decision so the people of Yorkshire, and Batley and Spen can get the most of this opportunity to rejuvenate our most glorious and wonderful Yorkshire."

However, the Conservatives have rejected the call stating they are pushing ahead with selecting a mayoral candidate for South Yorkshire in a deal that would see around £1 billion pumped into the region.

Mr Berry said a deal for a One Yorkshire was far from unanimous among councils and instead favoured a "Greater Yorkshire" deal comprising a single mayoral combined authority.

He said in response to Mr Grogan's proposal: "Discussions have taken place over the summer with talks having restarted after a significant period of stalemate. It is absolutely clear there is no agreement around what has been referred to as the One Yorkshire deal.

"It is simply not the case that the coalition of the willing has had or does have wide support for its proposal.

"The Secretary of State made it clear in his letter he is happy to meet with leaders to discuss the Greater Yorkshire deal which could potentially be an exciting and ground-breaking devolution deal passing real power, real influence from the people in London, back to the people of Greater Yorkshire.

"He has also confirmed that a Greater Yorkshire deal should not and cannot include any of the South Yorkshire boroughs. "That is because to do so would undermine fundamentally the position of good faith that underpins both the Sheffield City deal and all devolution deals the Government seeks to negotiate."