Local Leaders react to Labour's LGR U-Turn

“This Government’s plans for Local Government Reorganisation have descended once more into farce. Across the country, this Labour U-turn will cost millions of taxpayers’ money.

“After nearly two years of hard work and significant cost to local taxpayers, the Government have now postponed Local Government Reorganisation for huge swathes of the country, including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. They’ve also confirmed that the planned Unitary Council elections will not now happen in May 2027, and instead existing councils will have their scheduled elections (locally - East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Peterborough and Cambridge City will have elections).

“This is a slap in the face to council officers, who have faced huge uncertainty up to this point, only to have more uncertainty added today.

“Businesses need certainty if we want them to invest in our communities and deliver on growth - this will only serve to undermine that. Residents deserve answers on what their council services will look like in the future and confidence that more time, money and effort won't be wasted because of more Labour u-turns.

“Like the Conservatives before them, Labour are showing their disdain for local councils and for the thousands of people who rely on local services. This is not devolution, it is not ‘rewiring the state’, this is disrespecting local democracy.

“Whatever central government does, we are committed to making sure that residents do not see any negative effects from Labour’s chaos. We will continue to work together to make sure that any reorganisation (if they still go ahead) delivers for residents.”

Signed:

Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council

Cllr Tim Bick, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Cambridge City Council