Local Government Reorganisation
House of Commons · Written Statements · 16 Jul 2026 · 1 speech · Official Report
This Government are driving the most ambitious programme of local government reform in a generation, replacing the inefficient two-tier system with new unitary councils so that all parts of our country can access strong services, and are ready for devolution. We need to devolve power out of Whitehall so that we can rebalance wealth, power, and opportunity across our country. This is the second richest country in Europe, and yet England has seven of the ten poorest regions in northern Europe. That is the case for change. But devolution requires strong local councils delivering good public services, supporting economic growth, which are closely connected to the communities they serve. Doing this right means recognising the unique contributions that different areas make to people’s lives, as well as to the national economy. Some of our smaller cities are highly productive, but have been constrained by tight boundaries, set decades ago, which stop them from building the homes they need. Others are more rural, with significant demand for social care services and affordable housing. Local government should be set up to address the unique circumstances of each area and design public services tailored to each community. Reorganisation provides us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure that councils genuinely represent the communities they serve today and stand the test of time. We know that people care about their own villages, home towns, high streets and communities....