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Michael Heaver
  • 2 months ago
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"Angela Rayner scraps shake-up of councils after gerrymandering claims" Times: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/angela-rayner-local-government-reorganisation-gerrymandering-hdpxg9fs3

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00:00All Labour forced into a absolutely humiliating U-turn following a truly shameful period where
00:07we saw English voters across swathes of the country denied their right to vote thanks to
00:14a Tory Labour stitch-up to abolish and merge councils without asking the public whether
00:20they actually wanted it or not, reform the only party to oppose this ridiculous project.
00:26And you've seen now the government, a huge U-turn, dropping plans for these council changes.
00:35You had seen various reform councils warning about the insanity of this costly reorganisation
00:43that the public weren't asked about.
00:45And you even saw it revealed that the government effectively ignored advice from officials as
00:53to the best path forward.
00:56So this was being driven through purely on ideology from Labour.
01:02And you can see Peter Harris there, the reform leader of Essex County Council, saying the
01:08fact that a secretary of state was prepared to ignore the advice of highly paid, experienced
01:12officials, not just from his own department, but across Whitehall on a decision affecting
01:161.7 million Essex residents is beyond staggering and a major embarrassment.
01:22It's also an embarrassment to see now the Labour forced into a U-turn that Angela Rayner as
01:30local government secretary now confirming that the reorganisation effectively abolishing
01:36councils, local councils across Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk and merging them.
01:42Well, those plans have now been withdrawn.
01:43Changes across many other areas, 14 other areas suspended.
01:49And so local elections next year will go ahead as scheduled before this absurd, costly LGR project.
01:58A huge part of what I do for this channel, of course, is keeping up with the latest news,
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03:30Now, this was the leader of Essex County Council, Peter Harris, reacting to this huge U-turn.
03:37At lunchtime today, we received some great news.
03:40A letter from government lawyers telling us that, facing a judicial review brought by Essex County Council,
03:47they have caved in.
03:48This unwanted, unnecessary and financially unhinged reorganisation is over.
03:55Thanks to us being the first council to stand up to the government,
03:59we have succeeded today in saving local taxpayers millions of pounds being wasted
04:05on a plan which the government has admitted today was wrong.
04:10We were never against change, but we were against the government's plan for five new councils.
04:18Now we've succeeded in containing the government's plans,
04:21we can now get back to what residents elected us to do,
04:26reforming Essex, providing the best possible services at the lowest possible cost.
04:32And yeah, look, myself, I oppose this.
04:36I spoke out on this on Southend Council, where I'm a reform councillor.
04:41And if you didn't see my speech, this was the speech I gave on LGR,
04:46which it seemed Labour and the Tories were totally set on,
04:51completely ignoring and going ahead with the LGR project.
04:55Well, they look pretty silly now, don't they?
04:59Ignoring the reality of this ridiculous project.
05:02Mr Mayor, local government reorganisation nationwide has been a complete dog's dinner.
05:07We've witnessed cancelled elections, the Labour government ignoring advice,
05:11and the public completely sidelined.
05:14The outcome could end up being unpopular changes being made
05:17that lack a direct mandate and that are financially catastrophic.
05:21Firstly, shouldn't the people of Southend and those across Essex have been asked
05:25whether they actually want LGR?
05:27The consultations I've seen only gave a choice of models
05:31and at no point gave the option of local government remaining as it is.
05:35That doesn't seem very democratic.
05:37The proposed model has minimal public support.
05:40A recent YouGov poll has found that 56% of residents across Essex oppose the plans,
05:45compared to just 24% who support the five-council model.
05:48Here in Southend, we know the only party to oppose these plans, the former UK,
05:53just won by a massive vote share across the city.
05:57Labour came fourth, but obviously this hasn't served as a wake-up call yet.
06:01As usual, the Tories are all over the place speaking in favour of LGR today,
06:05though Essex Conservative MPs and Conservative councillors on Essex County Council
06:10both say their policy is a referendum to stop it.
06:13So which is it?
06:14Across Essex, we're seeing councils vowing to do what they can to stop this.
06:20Basildon Council have withdrawn support for a merger with Thurrock.
06:24Harlow Council have vowed to oppose their council being abolished.
06:27Thurrock Council has urged the government to rethink what it is doing.
06:31Reform-controlled Essex County Council has launched a judicial review against LGR.
06:35Specifically when it comes to the proposed South East Essex Council,
06:40councillors at Rochford Council have just voted to support that judicial review.
06:44It seems the Labour government are determined to ram this through for ideological reasons.
06:49They've ignored advice from senior government officials
06:51on the strongest financial option for councils in Essex.
06:55That was rejected by the Secretary of State.
06:57The advice noted that the government's preferred five-council option
07:00risk-creating councils that are at significant disadvantage
07:04on tax base, service demand and ability to deliver services.
07:08It was noted confidence was low in the numbers presented by the successful bid
07:12and that the payback period for the five-council proposal was unclear
07:16with figures disputed locally and officials were not able to verify the position.
07:21Officials from the Department for Education and the Department of Health
07:25both raised concerns about the five-unitary authority proposal
07:28and the reform leader of Essex County Council, Peter Harris,
07:31has warned that to choose the worst financial option
07:34means effectively jeopardising the future of our services
07:38to our most valuable, vulnerable adults and children.
07:42This is an extremely serious situation.
07:45I would urge the Council to examine the evidence and think again.
07:49Sadly, I have no doubt, no doubt at all,
07:52that this administration will go on ignoring all of these warnings
07:55and refuse to give the people of Southend a direct say
07:58as to whether they actually want LGR or not.
08:01But rest assured, if you do intend to plough on with LGR in this form,
08:06Reform UK will hold you to account for implementing these radical changes
08:09that lack public support and that you've clearly been warned about.
08:13All right.
08:13Let's do this little challenge.