Speaking at a National Association of Local Councillors conference in Birmingham yesterday, Swindon leader Cllr Rod Bluh told delegates that a truly local government would require local autonomy over public services locally.

'As a leader of a council you don't have all those levers to pull,' he said. 'If we are really going to make this work, we need to stop playing party political games. We all know there is more that unites us than divides us.'