Local Government Reorganisation Announcement 'Unacceptable'
- Jul 16
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 17
Today I responded in Parliament to the announcement of the proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Staffordshire
Before today's announcement, I had already made clear – in every meeting with Ministers and every debate in Parliament – that the voices of the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme must be heard and respected in decisions that affect our community.
The proposals put forward today on Local Government Reorganisation are completely unacceptable.
They do nothing to address the concerns many people who live, learn and work in Newcastle-under-Lyme have been raising with me – concerns that I have raised time and again with Ministers and officials throughout this process.
Since plans were first announced, I have worked hard to ensure those concerns have been heard. I recently presented all the correspondence I've received from constituents on Local Government Reorganisation directly to 10 Downing Street, so that the strength and volume of local feeling on this issue is on record at the very top of government.
Following today's announcement, I made clear directly to the Secretary of State that these proposals are completely unacceptable. The Secretary of State offered me another meeting today. I shall be taking it up and will, again, be crystal clear about what we think and what we want.
Later on, I raised the issue again during the Sir David Amess Summer Adjournment Debate, continuing to press the case that Newcastle-under-Lyme must have a strong voice in any new authority. You can read that contribution in Hansard here: Sir David Amess Summer Adjournment - Hansard - UK Parliament
"It cannot be the case that neighbouring areas hold anything close to decisive sway over decision making, or that the views, needs and concerns of people across Newcastle-under-Lyme are dismissed or diminished in favour of other areas. There was very little in the proposal announced today to suggest that anything will mitigate that risk, or that reassures the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme that their concerns have been heard. I will not stop banging on about this until we put it right."
The proposal, put forward by Stoke-on-Trent, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire and Stafford councils, would see the functions of both Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council transferred to a new North Staffordshire unitary authority, covering Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Moorlands, alongside a separate Southern and Mid-Staffordshire unitary authority covering the rest of the county.
I have also raised with Ministers the concern that any reorganisation could see the financial situation of other authorities carried over to the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme. I've made it equally clear that Newcastle-under-Lyme must have a strong voice at the heart of the new authority's decision-making, not a diminished one, as many fear may be the case.
Much of the detail – including boundaries and seat numbers – has yet to be confirmed, and I will keep pressing Ministers to ensure that whatever comes next properly addresses the fears people here have about maintaining Newcastle-under-Lyme's distinct heritage and identity, and about other areas potentially dominating decision-making.
