Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to prevent electoral wards and divisions being drawn up in a partisan manner as part of unitary local government restructuring; what criteria is used to assess electoral areas when submitted to her; and whether this will be included in the review announced on 7 September 2026.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is the independent body responsible for setting electoral arrangements for councils. However, it cannot undertake an electoral review until a new council has been established in law. Where a proposal is implemented, councils are asked to suggest interim electoral arrangements for inclusion in the legislation establishing the new authority. Neither councils nor Ministers have the power to draw new electoral boundaries through this process. Instead, interim arrangements must be based on existing electoral areas, including district wards, county divisions, parishes and parish wards. Councils are expected to have regard to the Commission's published guidance when developing their suggestions, and the Commission offered support to councils undertaking this work earlier in the year.

The rapid review will consider the local government reorganisation programme as a whole, ensuring it is robust and aligns with the new Government’s plans to rewire the state.