A YORK MP has accused Government ministers of “intransigence” over the Yorkshire devolution debate.

Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, has called for “grown-up” talks, and she has warned that the region is seriously lagging behind areas like Manchester and Liverpool where elected mayors are already in place.

The MP said: “Local authorities have changed their minds. Yorkshire took a while to get its act together, but things have clearly moved on. Local authorities want to move forward and I believe there should be grown-up discussions between all parties.”

Earlier this week both Ms Maskell and York Outer MP Julian Sturdy spoke in a Commons debate about the current stalemate.

In that same debate Keighley MP John Grogan revealed he had turned to the Archbishop of York for help, asking Dr John Sentamu to intervene and “bang heads together”.

Ms Maskell said that as a pan-Yorkshire devolution plan has had the backing of 17 out of 20 Yorkshire councils, the Government should be meeting local authorities to make it work.

She added: “The most important thing is economic regeneration and, as with Yorkshire Forward, we need a body working to ensure Yorkshire gains economic opportunity.”

The existing plan for a South Yorkshire devolution involving Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster is proving a stumbling block for a single Yorkshire deal. Although Barnsley and Doncaster have since backed the One Yorkshire plan, Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry used Tuesday’s debate to reiterate the Government’s commitment to the older plan.

Mr Berry said they would only consider a deal for the “Greater Yorkshire” footprint, which excludes South Yorkshire - put forward by some councils two years ago.

Meanwhile, Julian Sturdy MP said he too feared York could be left behind.

After the debate, he said: “I have always made clear that inaction is not in the best interests of Yorkshire.

“What we need is secure progress towards delivering, at the very least, a Greater Yorkshire deal comprising North, West and East Yorkshire. This will give us the greatest amount of powers over strategic transport planning and economic regeneration.”

City of York Council has been involved talks over the “One Yorkshire” deal, some of which have taken place in York.

The council leader David Carr said it is still part of a “coalition of the willing” and is working with other Yorkshire local authorities to come up with a mutually acceptable devolution arrangement for the region.