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Lord John of Southwark (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 7 September 2026

Debate

Local Government Reorganisation

Contribution

My Lords, I start by acknowledging the hard work that my noble friend the Minister has been putting into this over the last couple of years, and the work of those councillors who have been arguing for these changes in their boroughs and counties over the last few months. I speak as someone who is entirely supportive of these proposals; they offer a much better way forward for local and regional government. I have benefited from a similar model in London for many years. However, there have been some mixed messages today, which I ask the Minister to help with. First, both my noble friend and the Secretary of State have talked about this being a rapid review, but I also understand that officers are being told to stand down all work and elections have been postponed, which does not suggest rapidity in the review. Can my noble friend the Minister throw any light on this, and can she reassure us that devolution will happen in this Parliament and that new unitary authorities will be up and running by the time of the next general election?

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