MPs have been told there is no room for manoeuvre on a deal for an elected mayor for East Anglia, with ministers making it clear it was a 'take it or leave it' situation.

Eight of the region's MPs met communities secretary Sajid Javid and his junior minister Andrew Percy, to discuss the Norfolk and Suffolk devolution offer of an extra £25m over the next 30 years (£750m in total) to spend on new roads, transport links, and another £100m over the next five years to help build affordable homes.

Sir Henry told ministers that although there was some support for the plan, there was also a massive opposition to the idea of creating a costly fifth tier of government, an elected mayor. Four Norfolk councils have objected to the plans and refused to give the recent consultation the green light.

Sir Henry said some of the MPs at the meeting had pushed for a devolution package with a rotating chairman from the local authorities, rather than an elected mayor, but said ministers had made it clear that it really was a 'take it or leave it' situation.

It is understood that ministers fear other devolution deals could unravel if the Eastern region is allowed to bypass plans for a mayor. It comes as West Midlands plans were formalised by the government yesterday.

Sir Henry said ministers had also confirmed that the current package could only go ahead if there was genuine consent across both counties, and claimed that they had conceded that there was not currently consent in Norfolk.

'Given that it is very obvious that a majority of the population are opposed, it is clear to me that the proposals are now doomed,' he said.

More than 10,000 responses were received to the public consultation on devolution proposals in Norfolk and Suffolk – with most people backing proposals for the government to hand back power to local bodies.

However there views on the proposal for a regional mayor were mixed – in an opinion poll 54pc of respondents backed the idea, but an online survey showed 62pc of people were opposed to the proposal.

The results were published as councils across the two counties start an autumn of considering what the public response should be to the devolution proposal.

But Sir Henry raised the prospect of a new devolution package in two years time which could unite councils from Norfolk and Suffolk and command more support.

Therese Coffey, Jo Churchill, Peter Aldous, James Cartlidge, Richard Bacon and George Freeman were also at the meeting.

What do you think of the devolution plans? Email edpletters@archant.co.uk