Local Government Reorganisation

Debate between Angela Rayner and Sojan Joseph

Monday 7th September 2026 Commons Chamber

[Angela Rayner]

One of the challenges that rural areas face is transport. One of the reasons that the Prime Minister has been so eager to make sure that devolution happens is that those who are closest to what is going on in their local area know what challenges are being faced and how we can unlock some of the potential, and Devon can take the positives from that. We want to work with Devon to make sure that people in Devon get the right local devolution and local government reform for them. That is why I paused the decision.

[Sojan Joseph (Ashford) (Lab)]

My constituents, and people in Kent generally, cannot wait any longer to see an improvement in their roads, bus services, social care and SEND provision. They were let down by decades of Tory administration, and are now being let down by Reform. Can the Secretary of State reassure them that this pause will not create more uncertainty, and will not lead to any further decline in public services?

[Angela Rayner]

My hon. Friend is right to mention what happened under the Conservatives. This Labour Government recognised what local government had been through, and took steps to build back resilience and deal with funding pressures. For me, local government reform is about ensuring that people receive the right services at the right level and that we can deliver the best for their local areas, and that, hopefully, is what we will be able to do. I still believe in and am committed to local government reform; I just want to make sure that we get this right.