A last-ditch bid was being made in Parliament today to halt a Government announcement on a major shake-up of Shropshire’s council structure.Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly was due to spell out in a written statement to MPs whether a joint bid for the county to be run by an all-purpose authority will be given at least a provisional green light.

The joint bid was made by Shropshire County Council, Oswestry Borough Council and South Shropshire District Council.

Granting unitary status would put an end to the county’s five district councils. But voters rejected the idea in referendums in Shrewsbury & Atcham, Bridgnorth and South Shropshire, and Tory MPs Daniel Kawczynski and Philip Dunne have led campaigns against the county council’s proposal.

And this afternoon Mr Kawczynski urged Commons Speaker Michael Martin to block any announcement.

He said that the local election campaign in Shrewsbury & Atcham had technically begun already because the borough was piloting electronic voting.

“You cannot have a major ministerial announcement affecting the borough during an election campaign,” said the Shrewsbury MP.

“So I am formally requesting an urgent ministerial statement on how it’s possible to make an announcement on local government during a local election campaign.

“I am also calling for the Speaker to impose an injunction on the whole thing until after the local elections have taken place in May,” added the Conservative MP.

Ludlow MP Mr Dunne said: “The people of Shropshire do not want a single council run from Shrewsbury. The Government should pay attention to what the people have told them.”

Supporters of unitary status claim such a move will lead to more efficient services and big council tax savings.

But opponents say such a change will prove less democratic and that the same savings can be obtained through close co-operation between existing councils. A final decision is expected by July.

By John Hipwood and Dave Morris