EXETER MP Ben Bradshaw has spoken out on plans for a major shake- up of local government in Devon and described a Conservative stance as "confused."

Mr Bradshaw hit out at the Conservative Party in Devon for putting on a "united front" to oppose any change to the unitary system, despite its representatives in Exeter continuing to back the city's bid for home rule.

Communities Secretary John Denham is currently considering two options. One has Exeter going it alone as a unitary authority, and a separate authority for the rest of Devon. the other has a super council covering the entire county, excluding Plymouth and Torbay. He is expected to make a decision on the long-running issue in the next month.

But Hannah Foster, prospective parliamentary candidate for the Tories in Exeter, said the city was being used as a "political football" and accused Mr Bradshaw and the Labour Party of "electioneering.

Consultation is set to close on Tuesday and it is understood a timetable has been drawn up to push the whole process through Parliament so elections to the new councils could happen as early as May this year — on the likely date of the General Election.

The Conservatives' Devon MPs have widely condemned the move but Exeter's bid has cross-party support on the city council.

Mr Bradshaw said: "The Tories are completely confused on this, because Exeter Conservatives strongly support Exeter's unitary bid.

"All the political parties on Exeter City Council support Exeter's bid. I very much hope the Government will respect the will of the people and all the political parties of Exeter.

"It seems extraordinary that Hugo Swire and rural Devon MPs think the Conservative councillors from Sidmouth and South Hams are better able to make decisions about Exeter than Conservative councillors in Exeter."

In response to the allegations, Ms Foster said: "I think to criticise the Conservatives for being split is outrageous giving the issue has moved so far from the original plan. This was never supposed to drag on for three and a half years. I think there should be no change. The Exeter unitary bid was deemed not to be financially viable and local government should not be put through such a massive upheaval in a time of economic recession when it should be focusing on keeping vital services running.

"The city councillors represent their constituency well but the government has let everyone down. This is being done to protect Ben Bradshaw and the city of Exeter is being used as a political football. It is nothing but electioneering."

Yolonda Henson, leader of the Conservative Party on the city council, said: "We have always backed the Exeter unitary bid and said we would like to control our own destiny. We represent the people of Exeter and, of course, my colleagues are going against what we are going to get and they are going to lose.

"We are fighting for the citizens of Exeter."