In a win for Reform UK, the Labour government has withdrawn its plans for local government reorganisation in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Hampshire.
The move follows judicial review challenges launched by Reform-led administrations in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex against the proposed changes. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Reform UK not only argued that this government’s plans for local government reorganisation were an unmitigated disaster, but we once again put our money where our mouth is.”
Reform has consistently opposed the reorganisation of local government, on the grounds that it would abolish established local councils and move power further away from communities. Reform warned that forcing through large new unitary authorities risks weakening local accountability, while distracting councils from delivering the services residents rely on.
In particular, Farage has argued against local government reorganisation in Essex, where Labour’s plans would needlessly break up the historic county and waste more than £100 million on pointless bureaucratic reforms.
It is the second time this year that Reform has challenged the government’s approach to local democracy. Earlier legal action over plans to cancel May’s local elections resulted in the government reversing course and allowing the elections to go ahead.
Farage said the party had again forced Labour to retreat.
“Earlier this year we took on the government and forced them to give the vote back to millions of people after Labour tried to cancel democracy”, he said.
“Now, thanks to our judicial reviews in affected Reform-led councils, the government has backed down on their plans yet again.
“Only Reform had the backbone to stand up to these reckless plans. This is yet another embarrassing defeat for Labour. Only Reform backs real democracy.”
The move follows judicial review challenges launched by Reform-led administrations in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex against the proposed changes. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Reform UK not only argued that this government’s plans for local government reorganisation were an unmitigated disaster, but we once again put our money where our mouth is.”
Reform has consistently opposed the reorganisation of local government, on the grounds that it would abolish established local councils and move power further away from communities. Reform warned that forcing through large new unitary authorities risks weakening local accountability, while distracting councils from delivering the services residents rely on.
In particular, Farage has argued against local government reorganisation in Essex, where Labour’s plans would needlessly break up the historic county and waste more than £100 million on pointless bureaucratic reforms.
It is the second time this year that Reform has challenged the government’s approach to local democracy. Earlier legal action over plans to cancel May’s local elections resulted in the government reversing course and allowing the elections to go ahead.
Farage said the party had again forced Labour to retreat.
“Earlier this year we took on the government and forced them to give the vote back to millions of people after Labour tried to cancel democracy”, he said.
“Now, thanks to our judicial reviews in affected Reform-led councils, the government has backed down on their plans yet again.
“Only Reform had the backbone to stand up to these reckless plans. This is yet another embarrassing defeat for Labour. Only Reform backs real democracy.”
