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UK PARLIAMENT · SITTING

Angela Rayner

MP for Ashton-under-Lyne · Labour · United Kingdom

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

With permission, Mr Speaker, I will make a statement on local government reorganisation. This Government are committed to delivering good growth across the country and power in every postcode, with places able to set their own ambitions and integrate services to meet people’s needs.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION · 2026-09-07 · READ IN HANSARD

I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his place and thank him for his constructive comments. It is disappointing that I have had to come to the House to make this statement.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION · 2026-09-07 · READ IN HANSARD

I gently say to the hon. Member that while I appreciate she uses language like “shock and anger”, it was important to me, as Secretary of State, to make the right decision, so I came to this House and spoke to hon. Members to ensure that I do that. I still believe that local government reform will unlock potential for the hon.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION · 2026-09-07 · READ IN HANSARD

Let me be really clear: this has not been overturned. As Secretary of State, I have made the decision to withdraw so that I can have a look and clear sight of what is going on, and review those decisions. I have done that in good conscience because I want to ensure that we get this absolutely right.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION · 2026-09-07 · READ IN HANSARD

Finally, my Department will provide support to council leaders, officers and Members representing impacted areas, and the Minister for Local Government has written to leaders and copied in Members of this House.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION · 2026-09-07 · READ IN HANSARD

I have set out already that I want to be able to review these decisions to ensure myself that they are the right ones, and I think that is the correct course of action. Respecting the court process means that the way to do this is to withdraw and consider afresh.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION · 2026-09-07 · READ IN HANSARD

The complete record

Every one of 602 lines we hold for Angela Rayner, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 13 of 13.

  1. I absolutely agree. That goes back to the point that far too often people object to development because they do not see the infrastructure, and people see that in some cases developers try to wriggle out of their obligations. As I set out in the consultation document we are putting forward today, we believe this will strengthen the hand of local authorities and we will be able to ensure that we get the infrastructure we desperately need alongside the houses.

    BUILDING HOMES · 2024-07-30 · READ IN HANSARD

  2. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that we have to fix the situation not just on the affordability of houses, and in the general election campaign we talked about our proposals for a mortgage guarantee scheme. The new deal for working people, which is coming forward with legislation in October time, will ensure that we make work pay. The Chancellor announced a pay rise for public sector workers, and we recently wrote to the Low Pay Commission to expand its remit so that we will make sure that over a million people get a pay rise, because jobs that pay will also mean people can then afford to have their own home.

    BUILDING HOMES · 2024-07-30 · READ IN HANSARD