UK Government announces local government reorganization and devolution plans for England

Article summary

The UK Government has unveiled sweeping plans to reorganize local government structures across England and expand devolution. Six new potential devolution areas have been announced for mayoral elections in May 2026. All 21 two-tier local authority areas will be legally invited to submit proposals for new unitary council structures. To facilitate this reorganization, local elections in several areas including East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire and Surrey will be postponed from May 2025 to May 2026. The Government is committed to moving all two-tier areas to simpler unitary structures and will introduce a new English devolution bill with accountability measures for mayors. These changes aim to cover 80% of England's population with devolved powers by 2026.