FOUR Oxfordshire MPs have together warned a plan to create a super council fails a key government test.

They said proposals backed by Oxfordshire County Council, Vale of White Horse District Council and South Oxfordshire District Council did not have the support of other authorities or 'the majority of MPs'.

The three authorities want to scrap all six of the county's biggest councils and replace them with one organisation, which could save £20m. 

But in a joint statement, Oxford East MP Andrew Smith, Witney MP Robert Courts, Banbury MP Victoria Prentis and Henley MP John Howell said: "We have seen that South Oxfordshire and the Vale of the White Horse are now backing a bid for a county-based unitary authority.

"We have also seen that this is opposed by Cherwell District Council, Oxford City Council, and West Oxfordshire District Council

"So this is not a unified bid across the whole county, does not have the support of the majority of the County’s MPs, and fails the criteria for consensus which the Department of Communities and Local Government are working to."

They said they 'recognised' there had been speculation about a major shake-up but existing council boundaries should be 'respected' and - in an apparent rejection of calls for a quick decision - said changes should not be 'rushed'.

The MPs added: "Our priority is to find the best arrangement for all our constituents."

The statement came after three Conservative-led authorities revealed they had teamed up to champion the super council plans

It was not signed by Nicola Blackwood, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, or Wantage MP Ed Vaizey.

Mr Vaizey has supported the super council plans but Ms Blackwood has not yet responded to requests for comment on the issue.