Labour's council shake-up is branded 'a farce' as ministers halt mergers in nine of 14 areas, including Kent

Local Government Minister Jim McMahon told the Commons that July's decisions for nine areas — Derbyshire, Devon, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire — are being withdrawn, with "legal clarity" to be sought before fresh decisions are made. Five of the original 14 regions will proceed, with mergers moving forward in East Sussex, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire following a further three weeks of consultation.

Shadow local government secretary Katie Lam called the situation "a farce", while Kent council leaders have warned that a decision there could slip to early 2027.

Nigel Farage told MPs that planning decisions in Clacton are currently made at local level and that unitary reforms would transfer them to 'a large population centre, miles away'.

McMahon committed to updating the Commons before Christmas and said all areas would receive an outcome by early next year, with May 2027 local elections proceeding on existing boundaries.