The leader of Milton Keynes City Council has voiced his disappointment after a bid for regional devolution was rejected.
Cllr Pete Marland was speaking after the national government announced plans for devolved administrations, but that a joint bid by Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes had not been chosen to be progressed towards the next stage of the process.
A joint bid by Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes’ respective councils under the BLMK banner had been submitted to a national government proposal for “devolution areas”, with a view to holding mayoral elections in May 2026 as part of a re-organisation of their local government structures.
Re-organisations have been approved for Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey and Cumbria, which will see planned elections in 2025 postponed while the re-organisations take place and new structures incorporating unitary authorities in place of district and county councils are set up.
Cllr Marland voiced his disappointment in a statement that the government opted against choosing the BLMK bid as a contender.
He said, “It is very disappointing that the government has decided not to take forward Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes as part of the Priority Programme for devolution at this time. We understand that the region has a complicated geography with a lot of uncertainty, with government required to ensure that no area is left without the potential for devolution.
“However, the BLMK footprint is the only combination of local authorities on which Milton Keynes expressed an interest or is willing to consider at present, and given recent announcements regarding the re-emergence of the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor and the pressing need for economic growth we believe not progressing with a BLMK Mayoral Strategic Authority as quickly as possible is a missed opportunity.
“We remain committed to the potential that devolution brings and working with partners to move decision-making out of Westminster and closer to local people. We still feel that BLMK is the right economic, health and social geography. We understand that other issues mean it may be some time before a wider national picture is understood, but we will continue to work with the government to promote the benefits of a BLMK model and pressing for inclusion on that basis as quickly as possible because it is best for our city, region and national economy.”
The approach had already been the subject of controversy, after plans for a greater South Midlands area including Northamptonshire councils were revised with areas covered in Northamptonshire dropped.
A separate bid by West and North Northamptonshire Council to also be part of the fast track process was also not selected by the department helmed by Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner to be part of the process.
The Labour government that took office in July last year had promised to expand devolution for local governments as part of their manifesto.
Police have released an image of a man officers wish to speak to as they believe may have vital information about an assault in Milton Keynes.
The image release relates to an incident that happened around 3.50am on Sunday (2/2), when a man aged in his fifties was assaulted in Savoy Crescent.
The victim suffered a broken eye socket, a suspected broken nose, which required stitches, and a cut on his head. He required hospital treatment but has since been discharged.
Investigating officer PC Emma Thorn, based at Milton Keynes police station, said, “I am appealing for anyone who recognises the man in this image to please get in touch as I believe he may have vital information about this assault.
“If you are the man pictured, please come forward as soon as possible.
“I would also urge any witnesses or anyone with information or any images or footage of the assault should call 101 or make a report on our website, quoting reference number 43250053965.
“Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via its website.”
Luton Town have confirmed that Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Cauley Woodrow and Tom Holmes have left on loan moves late on deadline day.
The trio all leave on short-term deals, with midfielder Mpanzu joining League One Rotherham United, striker Woodrow joining Blackburn Rovers and defender Holmes joining Belgian side FCV Dender EH.
The three departures conclude a busy January at Kenilworth Road, with the Hatters having signed eight new players, although none were confirmed after the arrival of Norwegian striker Lasse Nordås earlier on deadline day.
One noteworthy departure is that of midfielder Mpanzu, who has made over 400 appearances for Luton since joining the club in 2013 and represented the Hatters on every stage of their journey from the National League to the Premier League.
Mpanzu has found game time limited this season, with the midfielder having made just ten appearances this season, only one of which saw him start.
He joins a Millers side currently sat 15th in the third tier table, seven points off the play-offs and 12 points clear of the relegation zone.
Luton Town CEO Gary Sweet praised Mpanzu’s legacy in a statement, highlighting his accomplishments with the Bedfordshire club in helping the club achieve four promotions.
He said, “It’ll be strange not to see and hear Pelly around the place. He’s been a massive part of this last generation, has achieved so much in his Luton career and we thank him for the journey we’ve all enjoyed with him.
“It’s a decision that was felt was the best for Pelly by all, including him and his advisers, because he ultimately needs to play more football.
“We all wish Pelly the best at Rotherham and helps them to a successful end to the season, but it will be great to see him back for at least one more game in the future.”
Striker Woodrow was one of three deadline day arrivals by the Hatters’ fellow Championship side Blackburn, alongside Emmanuel Dennis and Yuri Ribeiro.
The 30-year-old had joined Luton from Barnsley in 2022, scoring 6 goals in 77 appearances, 24 of which came in the Premier League last season. Having fallen down the pecking order at Luton, however, he’s made the move to Rovers, who currently sit in 5th place and are part of a squabble over the Championship’s play-off positions.
Defender Holmes was the other loan departure that Luton confirmed on deadline day, with the 24-year-old moving to Belgium and joining an FCV Dender EH side currently sat 11th in the Belgian Pro League.
Holmes had joined Luton from Reading in January 2024, spending the second half of last season on loan with the Royals before moving to Luton in full in the summer. He made 20 appearances for the Hatters, but following the late-window arrival of Kal Naismith, Holmes has been deemed ok to leave on a temporary basis.
Milton Keynes-born England international footballer Ben Chilwell has signed for Crystal Palace on loan from Chelsea.
After being deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, Chilwell has made the move to Selhurst Park on loan for the rest of the campaign. The deal does not include an obligation or option to make the move permanent in the summer.
The 27-year-old moves from West to South London after four and a half years with Chelsea, having won the Champions League in his first season after joining the Blues from Leicester in 2020 and winning most of his 21 England caps while with Chelsea.
He had fallen down the pecking order with Chelsea in recent seasons, however, making just 13 Premier League appearances last season and just one appearance in all competitions so far this season, which came in the Carabao Cup.
Palace have opted to sign Chilwell as an option in defence, having seen Chadi Riad ruled out for the rest of the season and Trevor Chalobah recalled by Chelsea after spending the first half of the season on loan at Selhurst Park.
In a brief statement on the official Crystal Palace website, Chilwell voiced his excitement to get started with Oliver Glasner’s side.
He said, “I’m very excited to be here. Crystal Palace are a club that’s going in a great direction. You look at the last few months, with the results and how the team’s playing, and it was a no-brainer to make the decision to come here.”
Chilwell was not the only player with connections to Milton Keynes on the move at Crystal Palace on January transfer deadline day.
Ghana international Jeffrey Schlupp, who was raised in Milton Keynes and attended schools in the city after moving to England as a child, has been allowed to leave Palace on loan for the rest of the season.
Schlupp, 32, has joined Celtic on loan for the rest of the season, joining a side that lead the Scottish top flight by ten points and who have a Champions League play-off against Bayern Munich later this month.
Capable of playing on the left side, midfield or up front, Schlupp came through at Leicester City, making 24 appearances in the league in their famed 2015/16 Premier League title winning season before joining Palace in 2017.
He had made 247 appearances for the Eagles, scoring 19 times, though it is plausible he has played his last game for the club with his contract due to expire at the end of the current season.
A late flurry of transfer activity at MK Dons saw the club confirm the signings of Danilo Orsi and Connal Trueman, along with the departures of Tom McGill, Ellis Harrison and Joe Pritchard.
On a busy January deadline day that also saw Travis Patterson join on loan from Aston Villa while Tom Carroll and Matt Dennis had their contracts cancelled by mutual consent, the Dons rounded off their business with two more signings and three exits.
Striker Orsi has joined on loan for the rest of the season from League One side Burton Albion, while goalkeeper Trueman joins MK Dons on a permanent basis from Championship outfit Millwall.
The moves see MK Dons boss Scott Lindsey reunited with another player he worked with at Crawley Town, with Orsi having scored a hat-trick against the Dons in the second leg of last season’s play-offs, as well as scoring in the play-off final win over Crewe. He joins Laurence Maguire, Liam Kelly and Jay Williams as players from that Crawley side now at Milton Keynes.
Goalkeeper Trueman had also made six appearances for Crawley this season, though these came on an emergency loan deal agreed under Lindsey’s successor Rob Elliot.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper McGill has been recalled from a season long loan at MK Dons by his parent club Brighton, striker Harrison leaves the Dons to join League Two leaders Walsall on loan for the rest of the season and wing-back Pritchard has had his contract with the club cancelled.
The late window flurry caps off a very busy window at Stadium MK. The Dons have signed eight new players, with deadline day arrivals Orsi, Trueman and Patterson following previously confirmed signings Jay Williams, Dan Crowley, Tommi O’Reilly, Nathan Thompson and Jack Sanders.
Meanwhile, the deadline day exits of McGill, Harrison, Pritchard, Carroll and Dennis follow the previously confirmed departures of Tommy Leigh, Stephen Wearne, Brooklyn Ilunga, MJ Williams and Darragh Burns, along with Jack Tucker, Callum Tripp and Nathan Harness all leaving on loan moves.
