Britain | Local government reform

A plan to reorganise local government in England runs into opposition

Turkeys vote against Christmas

A pedestrian walks across the town square in Stevenage
Photograph: Getty Images

The government has more eye-catching policies, such as a plan to build millions of homes and a promise to “smash the gangs” that smuggle asylum-seekers across the English Channel. But the policy with the greatest chance of changing England for good is local-government reform. Labour’s plans in that area are bold. They are also deeply unpopular in some quarters, as local politicians made clear on January 10th in their initial responses to the government’s proposals.

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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Not so fast”

From the January 18th 2025 edition

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