PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak has added his voice to a bid by the Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley to "break away from Bradford Council".

Robbie Moore wants to change local authority boundaries to "re-empower local communities that feel completely disenfranchised and forgotten about" - but Labour has described his campaign as "bizarre".

Mr Moore, supported by Shipley Tory MP Philip Davies, hopes to see smaller unitary authorities being created through his Local Authority Boundaries (Referendums) Bill, which had its second reading in the House of Commons earlier this year.

The MP raised his bid during Prime Minister's Questions this week - and Mr Sunak told Mr Moore he would arrange for the relevant minister to discuss the matter with him.

Mr Moore told the Commons: "For too long, Bradford Council has failed to represent the best interests of my constituents, whether in its catastrophic failures on children's services, its inability to invest our own council tax back into Keighley and Ilkley, or its refusal to instigate a review into child sexual exploitation across the Bradford district.

"Local residents and I are fed up of being ignored by Bradford Council - and we want out.

"Will the Prime Minister meet me to discuss my case for leaving Bradford Council and creating our own unitary authority that better represents Keighley and Ilkley, putting our priorities first?"

Mr Sunak said: "I know my honourable friend is a passionate campaigner on this issue, having even introduced a Private Member's Bill on it earlier this year.

"I agree that his council should be working to ensure that it delivers good services for all its residents, including his constituents, and I will certainly arrange for the relevant minister to discuss his concerns further with him."

Labour-run Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe has previously argued against the proposal to split the district, saying it does not make sense to set up two local authorities as it would double the costs.

Labour's Sarah Owen, MP for Luton North and shadow minister for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government, described Mr Moore's bill a "bizarre piece of legislation".

She added: "It is a shame that Mr Moore uses his opportunity to speak in this house about local Government by advocating for unneeded changes to boundaries rather than calling for existing councils to be adequately supported.

"If things are so bad - they already have a Tory MP and a Tory Government - the possibility of a Tory-run local authority probably is not going to help the situation."