He made the stark statement at the South West Growth Summit, a major meeting of business leaders, politicians and academics from across all sectors in the South West.

The assertion comes as all 17 Devon and Somerset councils reach a critical stage in their bid for devolved powers – and the sticking point is the need for an elected mayor.

Mr Javid said that only an elected mayor could bring the kind of ambitions devolution that the region is calling for. To a packed Reed Hall at the University of Exeter, the minister, who is an alumni, said: “If you want an ambitious devolution deal then you have got to have a mayor.”

And he argued that Cornwall’s Devolution Deal without an elected mayor was not ambitious and did not involve any hand over of money. “What’s the point of going down that route?” he said.

Mr Javid called for the region to have one voice on its plans for economic prosperity. In a region that is challenged by disparate communities and historical rivalries, he said: “If you are going to make a success of the south-west that whole attitude has to change.”A region of collaboration and co-operation can make a difference. It has to happen,” he said.

The beauty of the region means as strong reliance on tourism, but it is a double-edged sword, he warned. “It perpetuates the idea that this is a low skill and part-time economy. It is not just a sunny playground for the rest of the country nor a retirement community for Britain’s pensioners.”

He said the 3 million population of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset were leading the way in aerospace and creative industries and it is a question of taking that message to the rest of the country and the world.

The South West Growth Summit was hosted by the Pennon Group in conjunction with the Western Morning News and the region’s Local Enterprise Partnerships. The debate held at the event will go on to help form a Growth Charter for the South West, a document that will be presented to the Government ahead of next month’s Autumn Statement.

The region’s MPs joined business leaders to discuss a number of key issues facing the region, including keeping the brightest talent and attracting investment.
Connectivity in terms of mobile and broadband coverage and investment in the road, rail and air routes continue to be high on the agenda.

Chris Loughlin, Chairman of the Pennon Group called for the region to embrace the digital revolution, the kind of business that makes a virtue of working in remote communities.

He said that the region must decide what the South West is and formulate a concept to rival the Northern Powerhouse or Midlands Engine to capture the collective consciousness. “It is essential that we have a clear unified voice to stand up strong for the South West.”