In February this year the Government launched the devolution priority programme, taking forward proposals to create mayoral strategic authorities in the great counties and communities of Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Greater Essex, Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton.
This programme—one of the largest ever single packages of mayoral devolution in England—delivers on the Government’s commitment to widen devolution, with areas given sweeping new powers, putting them on the fast track to deliver growth, opportunities, transport and housing for local communities.
Following the announcement, public consultations were undertaken in each area. I am grateful for the responses received from local people, councils, businesses and wider stakeholders, which we have now carefully assessed. It is clear that, like us, communities care deeply about the future of their area and the benefits that devolution can bring. Today, the Government are also publishing summaries of these responses.
Following an assessment, I am pleased to confirm that the relevant statutory tests to establish mayoral strategic authorities in all six areas have been met. Subject to the constituent councils’ consent, legislation will be brought before Parliament in order to establish each of the six institutions early in 2026, devolving further powers to local leaders and those with local knowledge, to drive economic growth and empower communities with investment to support their work.
These ambitious next steps in our devolution revolution represent one of the greatest transfers of power from Westminster in a generation, bringing another 8.8 million people under mayoral devolution, which will now cover close to 80% of the country.
Four inaugural mayoral elections will take place in Greater Essex, Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton, and will be held in May 2026. Following a request from the local authority leaders in Cumbria, and Cheshire and Warrington, the Government have agreed to align inaugural mayoral elections with the vast majority of local elections in May 2027, simplifying the elections for voters and saving taxpayers’ money.
The confirmation on the timing of these elections will not affect the speed of establishment of the combined authorities in these areas, with legislation to create the new authorities being laid alongside all others in the devolution priority programme, providing for strong foundations and positive partnership working, as well as early delivery of key local investment ahead of mayoral elections.
Mayoral elections held in 2026 will take place under the first-past-the-post voting system, as is currently the law. The recently tabled English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill would move future mayoral elections —and police and crime commissioner elections—to the supplementary vote system, which was in place prior to 2023. Subject to parliamentary approval, this would be relevant for the proposed 2027 mayoral elections onwards.
We will continue to work with councils over the summer, including to confirm funding for these new strategic authorities and to secure their consent to the establishment of secondary legislation.
We understand that these mayoral strategic authorities will also need funding certainty to be able to plan for the long-term and get maximum impact from their spending. As stated in the “English Devolution White Paper”, the 30-year investment funds will remain a core part of the offer to devolution priority programme areas, which will receive this funding on their creation. We are standardising funding for new institutions to increase transparency and fairness.
As devolution progresses, we value and expect the engagement of local Members of Parliament, local council leaders, police and crime commissioners, and other local stakeholders, with the constituent authorities.
Subject to Parliament, these areas will also benefit from the changes included in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which was introduced to Parliament last week. With access to the devolution framework, all six areas will have the powers they need to deliver more jobs, easier commutes and new homes for local people.
With power rebalanced from Whitehall, local leaders will finally have the tools they need to power up our regions, rebuild local government and empower communities.
As I have said in previous updates to the House, this Government are committed to resetting the relationship with local and regional government, and taking the action necessary to fix the foundations of local government. Today, I am updating the House on the steps we are taking in partnership to support four councils to recover and reform: the London borough of Croydon, Thurrock council, Dudley metropolitan borough council and Liverpool city council.
London borough of Croydon
On 12 June, I informed the House that I was satisfied, having considered the latest report from the improvement and assurance panel and other information, that the London borough of Croydon is failing to comply with its best value duty. I proposed an intervention package to secure the council’s compliance with that duty and asked the council and others to provide representations by 25 June.
I received 35 representations, which I considered carefully. I am satisfied that the council is failing to comply with its best value duty in relation to continuous improvement, leadership and use of resources. I have concluded that it is both necessary and expedient for me to exercise powers in the Local Government Act 1999 as I proposed, with minor amendments.
Croydon remains one of the most financially distressed councils in the country. Failing to change course would condemn Croydon’s residents to a worsening position without a recovery strategy. I am satisfied that the scale of the financial difficulties facing Croydon, the failure of the council to adequately respond to these difficulties and the assurance required means that a short and sharp reset, with fast action, is required to shift the dial on the council’s recovery. I believe this is best achieved by escalating the statutory intervention to a commissioner-led model to ensure the council can achieve sustained change at the pace needed.
I am delighted to announce the publication of the Government new strategy for modern and secure elections. This marks a significant step forward to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of our electoral system. It sets out a clear vision for modern, secure and inclusive elections, underpinned by transparency, resilience and fairness.
Our democracy is central to who we are as a country. We can take pride in its evolution and how it has inspired people around the world. We have a responsibility to protect and strengthen that democracy. In each generation there must be a national conversation about how to protect our democratic system and culture, so that we build on our advances and leave a democracy more robust and relevant to the next generation. We must build upon the foundations laid by those who came before us, and leave it better than we found it.
This bold new strategy reflects the ambition of this Government to ensure that every eligible citizen can participate confidently and safely in a democracy protected against evolving threats and challenges. It looks ahead, building on what works well while making the changes we need to face a changing and challenging world.
We will bring forward a Bill during this Parliament, which will include extending the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds and work to create a system of automated voter registration. We will bring forward new safeguards on digital campaigning and pave the way for digital voter identification, rebuild our firewall against foreign interference and protect those who put their name forward to stand in elections against harassment and intimidation.
On 2 December 2024, this Government published our remediation acceleration plan, setting out our approach to accelerating the remediation of residential buildings with unsafe cladding in England and improving the experience of affected residents.
Today we are publishing an update to that plan, setting out key progress and introducing new measures to achieve the plan’s three objectives:
fix buildings faster—so that those buildings already known to us can be made safe at pace;
identify all 11 metres plus residential buildings with unsafe cladding—so that every building at risk is found and fixed; and
support residents—so that people affected by unsafe cladding are treated fairly and compassionately throughout the process.
Through this work we will overcome the barriers of cladding remediation so that residents can be safe, and feel safe, in their homes.
The plan is an essential part of this Government’s ambition to deliver a safe, sustainable built environment that meets residents’ needs. It complements our broader housing goals, including the delivery of 1.5 million high-quality homes over this Parliament. The recent spending review laid the foundations for the largest increase in social and affordable house building in a generation. However, tackling legacy safety issues in our existing stock remains a vital priority. This update ensures that those challenges remain front and centre.
Fixing buildings faster
The plan’s first objective is to accelerate the pace of cladding remediation for those buildings already known to be affected. Since December we have made considerable progress in strengthening enforcement, streamlining delivery and working with the sector to meet stretch targets. To build on this momentum, we are introducing a range of further measures.
Today I issued directions under section 15(5) and 15(6) of the 1999 Act to implement the proposed intervention package. The intervention package—to be in place until 20 July 2027—comprises specific actions the council is required to take alongside the appointment of three commissioners appointed to exercise specific council functions and a political commissioner. I am confident that this package will address the issues identified and is necessary for the council to secure compliance with its best value duty.
I have appointed Gerard Curran, Debra Warren, Jackie Belton and Councillor Abi Brown OBE as commissioners. I am confident that their extensive knowledge and experience will help to deliver the necessary improvements for Croydon.
I have issued directions which, in summary, require the council to:
Continue to develop and implement the London borough of Croydon stabilisation plan and transformation programme to the satisfaction of commissioners.
Fully co-operate with the commissioners and take any reasonable action within the authority’s functions to prevent further failure, as reasonably determined by the commissioners.
I expect the council to drive its own improvement with the support, challenge, and advice from the commissioners. To safeguard the process, some commissioners will have powers to exercise certain functions to ensure compliance with the best value duty:
To ensure the council has the leadership, structures and systems in place to drive and sustain improvement, including governance and scrutiny of strategic decision making, oversight of strategic financial management and decision making, and the appointment, dismissal and performance management of senior and statutory officer positions.
To support financial sustainability and enable transformation of the authority’s operating model and services to deliver value for money and long-term financial resilience.
The commissioners’ appointments and directions take effect from today. The commissioners will provide their first report in six months, with a second report before summer 2026 and further reports every six months or as agreed with the commissioners. I will review the directions and commissioners’ roles after 12 months to ensure that Croydon has the support required to accelerate recovery and protect the public purse. Subject to clear and sustained evidence of improvement, certain functions may be returned to the council ahead of the expiration of the directions.
As with other statutory interventions led by my Department, the council will meet the costs of the commissioners, and provide reasonable amenities, services and administrative support. The fees paid to individuals are published in appointment letters on gov.uk. I am assured this provides value for money given the expertise being brought and the scale of the challenge.
Finally, I would like to place on record my thanks to Tony McArdle OBE and all of the improvement and assurance panel members for their work in supporting the council on its reform and recovery.
Thurrock council
On 19 June, I informed the House that I was satisfied that Thurrock council is not yet complying with its best value duty. I proposed to issue new directions to Thurrock council to extend the statutory intervention until 30 April 2028, and asked the council and others to provide representations by 2 July 2025.
I received three representations, which I considered carefully. I am satisfied that the council is not yet complying with its best value duty. I have concluded that it is both necessary and expedient for me to exercise powers in the 1999 Act as I proposed, with minor amendments.
I have today issued directions to the council under section 15(5) and 15(6) of the 1999 Act to implement the proposed intervention package. These come into effect immediately and will remain in force up to and including 30 April 2028. The directions issued on 2 September 2022 —updated on 16 March 2023—are revoked with immediate effect. This package, to be in place until 30 April 2028, comprises specific actions the council is required to take alongside the appointment of three commissioners with powers to exercise functions. I am confident that this package will address the issues identified and is necessary for the council to secure compliance with its best value duty.
The success of Thurrock is important both for its own benefit and that of the region, with its critical role in local government reorganisation and devolution across Essex, which offers significant opportunities to drive growth, improve transport connectivity and build new homes, as well as raise living standards for its population.
I have today appointed Gavin Jones CBE, Denise Murray and Dr Dave Smith as commissioners.
I have issued directions which, in summary, require the council to:
Continue to implement and report on plans for the authority’s improvement and recovery, to the satisfaction of the commissioners.
Develop and maintain a revised corporate plan that includes the necessary work to ensure the authority’s compliance with the best value duty.
Ensure that the authority has personnel with sufficient capability and capacity, including access to appropriate specialist expertise where required; works with commissioners on the work with other councils in the Greater Essex area for unitary local government and the devolution priority programme on implementing any such proposals later agreed upon; and fully co-operates with the commissioners and takes any reasonable action within the authority’s functions to prevent further failure, as reasonably determined by the commissioners.
Commissioners will be able to exercise functions:
Associated with the governance, scrutiny and transparency of strategic decision making by the authority.
Associated with financial sustainability and delivering financial governance and scrutiny of strategic financial decision making by the authority.
Associated with the authority’s operating model and redesign of services to achieve value for money and financial sustainability; and those that ensure the council has the right skills, capacity, capabilities and structures to make improvements.
I intend to review the proposed arrangements by summer 2026, when I expect there to be further clarity on broader plans for devolution and local government reorganisation across Greater Essex.
As with other statutory interventions led by my Department, the council will be required to cover the costs associated with the commissioners and provide reasonable amenities and services and administrative support. The commissioners’ fees are published on gov.uk. I am assured this provides value for money given the expertise that is being brought and the scale of the challenge.
Dudley metropolitan borough council
I am also updating the House on steps we are taking in relation to Dudley metropolitan borough council.
After carefully considering the relevant evidence, my Department has today issued the council with a best value notice. This is not a statutory intervention but a formal notification of the Department’s concerns. We found no evidence of current best value failure at the council, but recent progress must be sustained and embedded to ensure that the council meets its best value duty.
The council is expected to continue driving its own recovery and is asked to engage regularly with the Department for assurance of improvement. Progress against the notice will be reviewed after 12 months. I am pleased that the council already has the support of an independent improvement board and the Local Government Association, and am hopeful that it will continue to make good progress. I urge the council to make full use of its board’s expertise, and the Department will seek updates from it.
Liverpool city council
The statutory intervention in Liverpool city council concluded in June 2024 when the council established its own improvement and assurance board. I have welcomed the council’s engagement with me and the Department, and the progress reports from the council and board chair. We have been pleased to provide ongoing support.
The board has now concluded its successful work with the council, and I am pleased to hear that the council can now lead its own recovery, continue to drive continuous improvement and respond to future challenges. I do not underestimate the work it has taken to reach this point, and give my thanks to the council’s leadership, staff, and the improvement and assurance board for their efforts.
I welcome the council establishing an ongoing improvement committee in place of the board, and I encourage the council to seek some independent, external strategic support. I am now ending the departmental support provided since last June but have asked to stay close to developments, with periodic engagement with the Department continuing. I thank Councillor Liam Robinson for the leadership he has shown together with Members, officers and colleagues within Liverpool, and thank the improvement and assurance board for its dedication to ensuring the best possible services for the people of Liverpool. I look forward to seeing Liverpool’s journey continue.
As a council that has been through the best value process, it has insights and experience that the Department and wider sector would take value from.
Conclusion
I am committed to working in partnership with these councils to provide the necessary support to ensure their compliance with the best value duty and the high standards of governance that local residents expect, ensuring they are fit, legal and decent, with a Government in active support of recovery and improvement.
I will deposit in the Library copies of the documents referred to, which are being published on gov.uk today. I will update the House in due course.
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These are changes designed to protect our democracy.
The strategy has been developed by working across Government, through close engagement with key partners from across the electoral community, with young people and with civil society organisations. It outlines a programme of work that will support innovation, improve accessibility, strengthen oversight, safeguard against known and emerging threats, and ensure that only those with a legitimate interest in the UK get to decide its future.
We are grateful to all those who contributed to this strategy and look forward to continuing to work across Government and the devolved nations, with our partners in the electoral community and with the wider public to ensure its successful implementation into law.
The strategy is available on gov.uk and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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Working in partnership with the social sector, we have published a new joint plan between the Government, social landlords and regulators, enshrining 22 commitments that, alongside new funding, will shave years off remediation timelines. At least 110 social landlords have already signed up to the joint plan. Those signatories collectively account for over 75% of buildings known to require remediation. There is no time to waste, and we will implement our equal access policy with immediate effect. We have today changed the rules of the cladding safety scheme to give social landlords the same access to Government remediation funding as private landlords, underpinned by this Government’s new investment of over £1 billion.
We will also bring forward a Remediation Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows, which will focus on accelerating the remediation of historical unsafe cladding and protecting leaseholders in the process. That includes creating certainty about which buildings need remediation and who is responsible for remediating them and making obligations for assessing and completing remediation clearer through the legal duty to remediate, with severe consequences for non-compliance. We intend to introduce a backstop for the Government to bring an end to the building safety crisis; and giving residents greater control in situations of acute harm where landlords have neglected their responsibilities.
We have also been working collaboratively with mayoral strategic authorities who are developing and delivering local remediation acceleration plans. We have provided over £5 million to support these plans in 2025-26.
To support the join-up of our remediation work, we are also establishing a national remediation system—a single dataset covering information on all relevant residential buildings over 11 metres. The system will improve efficiency by allowing information sharing among regulators, delivery partners and local authorities.
Identifying all 11 metres plus residential buildings with unsafe cladding
To fix all 11 metres plus residential buildings with unsafe cladding, we must first ensure that every building at risk has been identified and reviewed. In December, we estimated that between 4,000 and 7,000 buildings requiring remediation had not yet been identified. Through improved data, we have now narrowed this estimate to between 500 and 3,400 buildings with unsafe cladding left to bring into a remediation programme.
We are on track to identify the vast majority of buildings requiring remediation by the end of this year, thanks to the continued development of our national remediation system, regional investigations and proactive support from delivery partners. Where buildings require further investigation because external, visual indicators are insufficient to determine if remediation is required, we are approaching landlords to review fire risk assessments and provide support, ensuring that these buildings are either remediated or ruled out.
Supporting residents
Leaseholders should not bear the burden of remediating fire safety cladding defects that they did not cause. Our approach is guided by a commitment to fairness, transparency and compassion.
To ensure that cladding remediation funding is driven by risk, rather than an arbitrary height requirement, we will provide funding in those exceptional cases where multi-occupied residential buildings under 11 metres have life-critical fire safety risks from cladding and do not have an alternative route to funding.
One of the most difficult situations that a resident can find themselves in is a decant—where a residential building is deemed unfit for occupation and residents must leave their homes until they are made safe. We will put in place legislation to ensure that the vast majority of decants are avoided through prompt intervention or, where decants are necessary, residents can return to their homes as quickly and safely as possible.
We will deliver a long-term, sustainable approach to the waking watch replacement fund, with new funding committed to install alarm systems and help keep residents safely in their homes while their buildings await remediation, and to protect leaseholders from unnecessary costs.
We will outline the information that residents should receive during remediation. This will draw on existing guidance from the Health and Safety Executive to support residents in understanding their rights, what to expect and how to raise concerns if they believe something is unsafe. Strengthening accountability and improving delivery standards will ensure that residents are placed at the heart of building safety.
This update reflects a co-ordinated national effort, led by the Department and delivered in partnership with metro mayors, national and local regulators, and industry. Our goal is clear: to remove all barriers to remediation in order to get buildings fixed faster and allow residents to feel safe in their homes.