Contributions
1,009 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationMy hon. Friend is quite right to point out that the proposal we have accepted was put forward with cross-party support—the opposite of the claims of Opposition Members, who are…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationThis Government are driving the most ambitious programme of local government reform in a generation by replacing the inefficient two-tier system with new unitary councils so that…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI have also enjoyed working with the right hon. Gentleman, who is, unfortunately, a very effective shadow Secretary of State. I hope that our relationship can continue in this…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI have visited my hon. Friend’s constituency with him on several occasions and I recognise the work he does to champion his local communities, including through the process we are…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI thank the hon. Gentleman for his questions. Long-term financial viability is one of the main reasons why the process is taking place. It was one of the key criteria on which the…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationFirst of all, I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for the way he always champions and represents the views and interests of his constituents. We have indeed known each other for a…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationThe right hon. Gentleman is a doughty champion of his constituents, as we just saw. The Government have published criteria against which the proposals have been judged, and the…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationIt is important that we get the process moving, because we will not realise the benefits of economic growth, job opportunities and money in people’s pockets if we keep delaying…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationWest Sussex will benefit from eventual local government reorganisation, just as other areas will, because of the savings from two-tier duplication, which we can plough straight…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI have long recognised that my hon. Friend is a strong champion of the communities that she represents, and I am grateful to her for raising those points. We had a number of…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI thank the hon. Gentleman for his support in principle for the changes that we are making. The option we selected for Gloucestershire was chosen in part because it was the…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationMy hon. Friend is right that her council has achieved something remarkable in stabilising its finances, and therefore the foundation of its public services, so well. The option we…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationIt is of course important that the critical services that the hon. Gentleman referred to are protected and become stronger through reorganisation. It is because we will be able to…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI thank my hon. Friend for his question and always championing the interests of his residents. I would remind him that through fair funding, we have realigned Government funding…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI would remind the hon. Gentleman that the vast majority of these proposals have cross-party support. We have taken the decisions about Leicestershire, as in other cases, because…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI have visited my hon. Friend’s constituency with her on many occasions, so I know at first hand that she is one of the strongest advocates for her constituents of any Member in…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI would say to the constituents of the hon. Gentleman, with whom I have conversations quite often—not least on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, of which he…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI thank my hon. Friend for her question and for sharing her views with me in advance of this statement. Of course, I would be more than happy to ensure that the meeting she has…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI would just remind the right hon. Gentleman, as I have said several times already today, that the vast majority of the proposals that we have accepted have cross-party support.…16 Jul 2026HANSARD Local Government ReorganisationI remind the hon. Gentleman that the vast majority of the proposals I have accepted have cross-party support. If he has been listening to these exchanges so far, but he will have…16 Jul 2026