A new government forum for UK nations and regions including English regional mayors risks transferring power from local councils to a few elite politicians with ‘vast powers’, an East Lancashire council leader has claimed.

Conservative Cllr Stephen Atkinson, the leader of Ribble Valley Council, has blasted the government’s new Council of Nations and Regions, claiming it represents the ‘opposite of devolution’.

Following the Conservative Party's collapse in this year's elections, all except one regional mayoralty is held by Labour, which sits at the crux of Cllr Atkinson's complaints.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is behind the forum, which holds its first meeting today, which meets first in Scotland and includes Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh first ministers plus regional mayors.

However, Lancashire will not be represented at the talks as it does not yet have a devolution deal, an elected regional mayor or a regional combined authority.

Councillors in Ribble Valley called in August for a public referendum if district councils face the axe under a Lancashire shake-up.

Tory Cllr Atkinson said: "Further to this council’s extraordinary meeting on devolution, we have now had commitments from the leaders of Fylde, Wyre and Burnley councils that they are against local government reorganisation.

“I recently took part in a debate alongside the leader of Chorley Council, Alistair Bradley, on BBC Radio Two’s Jeremy Vine show.

"We debated Lancashire devolution and whether there should be a mayor. During the debate, Cllr Bradley said there would be a Council of Nations and Regions that mayors would attend."

He insists the move "is the opposite of devolving powers back to the people", mainly taking umbrage with the fact Labour is the dominant political force in the country among regional mayors.

Cllr Atkinson added: "According to what I’ve read, the Council for Nations and Regions will be chaired by the Prime Minister, the most powerful man in the Labour Party and the country.

"Most of the mayors on it will be from the Labour Party. It will be like King Keir’s round table, surrounded by his barons."

He added: “This is a change in the country’s constitution. A transfer of power from councils to a small few with vast powers. It feels like back to the future in Norman England.”

Politicians in Lancashire are currently split over a devolution proposal drawn up under the previous Conservative government, which the new Labour government is continuing to recommend.

Membership and voting powers of the proposed new combined authority are disputed.

Lancashire County Council, Blackburn and Blackpool councils have played leading roles in the current plan. But some smaller Lancashire district councils are unhappy, saying they would have no voting rights on the new combined authority so it would be unrepresentative.

Earlier this week Cllr Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said he hopes a combined authority, subject to approval, can start meeting in 2025.

Ahead of today's meeting, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "I’m determined to bring forward a new era of stability, trust, and partnership with businesses, investors, devolved governments, and local leaders to boost the economy and restore the UK’s reputation one of the best places in the world to do business.

"I’ve set out that we will be doing things differently, and that’s exactly why we are delivering our promise to convene the first Council of the Nations and Regions as we work as one team to maximise opportunities ahead of the Investment Summit.

"No more talking shops of the past. Genuine, meaningful, and focused partnership to change the way we do business, redefine our position on the world’s stage, and unlock the whole of the UK’s untapped potential to make everyone, everywhere better off."