Warrington Borough Council's Labour group has voted for the town to team up with the Cheshire authorities in a devolution deal – instead of the Liverpool City Region.
The topic came before Labour members at the Town Hall yesterday, Saturday.
Following presentations outlining advantages of each option, members opted to pursue a Cheshire deal, instead of one with Liverpool, by 24 votes to 10.
It will come as a blow to Warrington North MP Helen Jones, who felt the town would be better suited to a deal with Liverpool.
But Warrington South MP David Mowat will welcome the move.
The Conservative politician has continually called on councillors to put political agendas aside after speculation that some Labour members ‘feared’ a deal with Cheshire because of the likelihood of it delivering a Tory elected mayor.
And he claimed Warrington would be 'right at the back of the queue whenever there is money available' if it joined with Liverpool.
On Friday, council leader Cllr Terry O'Neill told the Warrington Guardian a devolution deal with Cheshire would go towards filling the borough's funding gap and deliver investment in key services and infrastructure.
Read more at warringtonguardian.co.uk