Local Government Reorganisation
Debate between Angela Rayner and James Cleverly(2 weeks ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Angela Rayner
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to recognise the work that has been done already. We want to work at pace to review the programme, and we will report back to Parliament at the earliest opportunity. Hopefully, the work that has been under way is already paying dividends for those areas. I do understand the frustration, but I ask Members who have worked well in bringing these proposals forward to bear with me as I review this and take us forward at pace.
Sir James Cleverly (Braintree) (Con)
On 26 March, I said that people will ask whether these reforms are an act of gross gerrymandering and political opportunism, or gross incompetence and stupidity. I think today we recognise that it is both. The right hon. Lady has only just returned to the Dispatch Box, so it cannot really be her fault, so who has screwed up? Who is it that has wasted the time, effort and money of people in Essex and other parts of the country? She has the opportunity now to tell us where, how and why this went wrong, and I encourage her to do so.
Angela Rayner
Again, I have made it clear that I want to be able to review the decisions. I have made it clear that legal advice was provided to me as part of the JR process, and I have made the decision to withdraw because of where we are up to and to review the decision. I want to also say that a great number of dedicated and professional public servants have worked on this in both central and local government, and I want to thank them on the record. But I want to be sure, as Secretary of State, that I am making the correct decision with all the information available.