MP, Shadow Secretary of
State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said:
“The Labour Government have massively rushed this whole exercise.
There has been no attempt to gather consensus within two-tier
areas. Local residents have not been consulted. Council leaders
have a ‘gun to their head' from the Labour Government.
“This whole process should be considered in slower time, with
proper and open consultation, and not imposed from Whitehall on
your town hall. Last year, we set out five key tests that any
restructuring should meet – and Labour have failed at every
hurdle. This mass postponement of elections is unprecedented and
entirely wrong.
“Conservatives support greater joint working and stronger local
accountability. But there are many ways to do this, and local
government should be ‘local' to residents, and respect local
identities. No council should be bullied or blackmailed into
local government restructuring.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
In December, the Conservatives set out five key tests on local
government restructuring. They have not been met by the Labour
Government.
- Is this a genuine choice for local councils,
and for local communities? Can councils choose not to engage in
such restructuring? (as opposed to Whitehall compelling or
punishing councils which don't).
- In two-tier areas, do both districts and
counties agree with the principle of some form of
restructuring? (as opposed to Whitehall only negotiating with one
tier in two-tier areas).
- Do a majority of local
residents support the changes? Will local
government be more accountable to local people, and will local
people have a greater say on decisions which affect their lives?
- Will any changes help keep council
tax down? (as opposed to higher council taxes to
pay for new structures). Will it improve local services and make
them more responsive?
-
Will it avoid disruption of social care,
given the demographic cost pressures that social care already
faces, compounded by Labour's National Insurance hikes?
