Local government reform: England pauses, Scotland redraws

In this Espresso Shot episode, David and Mike look at local government reform on both sides of the border. On 7 September England withdrew reorganisation decisions for Essex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Norfolk and Suffolk, and paused 14 more. Two weeks later, Scotland proposed replacing its 32 councils with six to ten regional authorities and 120–160 community authorities. Drawing on LEDC’s reform manifesto, they challenge the “unitary myth” and the “savings myth” and ask whether either the UK or Scottish governments passes the David Waite test: start with what you want to achieve, then design the structures. They also discuss the funding cliff edges that running reorganisation and devolution at the same time can create, and whether UK Ministers will now cherry-pick the easy wins on LGR rather than launch a full re-start.