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English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill 2025-09-02
02 September 2025
Lead MP
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Taxation
Other Contributors: 67
At a Glance
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner raised concerns about english devolution and community empowerment bill 2025-09-02 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Taxation
Government Statement
Today I am moving the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, a landmark bill to deliver real change for working people. The Labour Government was elected on a manifesto to provide more money in pockets, decent jobs, new homes, good transport links, thriving high streets, and opportunities for young people. After 14 years of Conservative rule, the people have lost faith that real change is possible. Our Bill aims to rebuild this trust by transferring power from Whitehall to regions and communities, ending the 'begging bowl' culture and empowering local areas. It includes giving mayors new powers over planning, housing, and regeneration; rebuilding local government to deliver reliable services; and enabling greater community engagement in shaping their local area. The Bill will drive significant devolution across almost 80% of the country, covering 44 million people, with integrated funding settlements for Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, set to benefit Liverpool city region, London, North East England, South Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire next year.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Question
Where will the accountability and scrutiny come from under this Bill? And where will the voice of local people really be heard?
Minister reply
The previous Government did not turbocharge devolution, but we believe these measures will enable mayors and local areas to drive growth. The Bill aims to empower local communities more effectively.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Question
Why should the Secretary of State look north to Scotland as an example? Does she see how this should not be done?
Minister reply
The challenge lies with the Scottish Government. We aim to reverse centralisation and put power in local people’s hands, contrary to what is happening in Scotland.
James Frith
Lab
Bury North
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that this Bill can fix the issue of drivers licensed outside Greater Manchester's area, protecting passengers and raising standards?
Minister reply
Mayor Burnham has been trying to address taxi licensing for years; the Minister made a clear commitment to introduce legislation as quickly as possible.
Laurence Turner
Lab
Birmingham Northfield
Question
Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Bill will make it easier for combined authorities to deliver projects such as further extensions of Birmingham's metro?
Minister reply
The Bill is just the start, building on Mayor Parker’s work and investment in Birmingham’s future.
Uma Kumaran
Lab
Stratford and Bow
Question
Does the Secretary of State agree that Sadiq Khan’s creation of over 330,000 jobs by the Greater London Authority is a testament to growth that devolution can deliver?
Minister reply
Absolutely; this Bill aims to unlock growth across all regions.
Iqbal Mohamed
Ind
Dewsbury and Batley
Question
How will the Bill prevent councils from making harmful decisions such as shutting down sports centres?
Minister reply
We are trying to restore local government by investing more, empowering them to grow the economy with a bigger slice of the cake. The community assets element within the bill may help in utilising high streets and facilities.
Rupa Huq
Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Question
Is the Secretary of State open to giving mayors everywhere the power to decide on an overnight accommodation levy like Mayor Sadiq Khan's plan?
Minister reply
Any new tax is a matter for the Chancellor at Budget time, balancing revenue and benefits against impact on taxpayers and the economy.
Clapham and Brixton Hill
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that this Bill is an opportunity to give metro mayors the power to bring in rent controls and protect renters in their cities?
Minister reply
I will pay attention to interventions, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Renters’ Rights Bill does contain measures that mean that renters can challenge unfair rent hikes.
Carla Denyer
Green
Bristol Central
Question
On devolving the ability to run pilots, and following up on the point made by the hon. Member for Clapham and Brixton Hill, Bristol city council—including Labour councillors—voted cross-party to have the power to pilot rent controls. Recent figures show that typical private renters in my constituency spend 45% of their income on rent. That is not sustainable. This Bill could offer the opportunity for that pilot.
Minister reply
The hon. Lady is right that there is a challenge in housing at the moment, which is also contributing to the rental situation for people. That is why we have a big ambition to build more houses.
Battersea
Question
Will she give way?
Minister reply
I will make progress, Madam Deputy Speaker.
Bayo Alaba
Lab
Southend East and Rochford
Question
In Southend East and Rochford we are a proud coastal community, but we have been left behind when it comes to connectivity, educational outcomes and investment in skills. Does the Secretary of State agree that through this Bill we have a chance to deliver the long-term meaningful change that my constituents deserve?
Minister reply
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. This is about all areas being able to join up and create inclusive growth for their areas, and that is broader than at local authority level.
Henley and Thame
Question
If the Deputy Prime Minister feels that elections for mayoral authorities should have a supplementary vote as that gives them sufficient authority, why does she not feel the same for Members of this House?
Minister reply
Millions of people are represented by mayors, who have huge powers over big regions. We want mayors to have strong personal mandates for the communities they serve rather than being elected on a fraction of the vote.
Julian Lewis
Con
New Forest East
Question
This is, I hope, a non-party political point. The White Paper in advance of the Bill mentioned rightly that there had been consultations on strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities, which relates to a campaign many of us have been involved in to try to protect local council clerks against bullying. We were pleased to be called into that consultation. There is, however, nothing about that in the Bill. Does the right hon. Lady plan to bring it forward in separate legislation?
Minister reply
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for raising that important issue. We intend to bring forward legislation.
Southend West and Leigh
Question
The hon. Member lists devolution actions but cannot deny that his Government underfunded local government, leading to significant challenges which require reorganisation and reform.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State did not address the specific concerns raised by the hon. Member about funding levels for local government.
Simon Opher
Lab
Stroud
Question
Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why Labour keeps getting re-elected to mayoralties?
Minister reply
The Secretary of State did not provide a direct response but highlighted that Conservative mayors deliver zero precept while Labour mayors increase taxes.
Joe Robertson
Con
Isle of Wight East
Question
How do my constituents on the Isle of Wight feel about being fused under a combined mayoral authority with Hampshire without having a single say?
Minister reply
The Secretary of State did not address this specific concern but acknowledged that communities want to maintain their autonomy.
Chris McDonald
Lab
Stockton North
Question
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for giving way—sorry for treading on his punchline. I was very pleased to hear his new-found enthusiasm for Teesside...
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman really does need to keep up. I addressed those comments at the time... The point I was making was about the then Labour representative, who I was not terribly impressed with, and the hon. Gentleman knows that that is the case.
Paul Foster
Lab
South Ribble
Question
I rise to support the Second Reading of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which is a vital step towards modernising local government and delivering fairer investment and greater accountability across England...
Vikki Slade
LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Question
May I start by welcoming the shadow Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for Braintree (Sir James Cleverly), to his place on the Front Bench...
Gideon Amos
LD
Taunton and Wellington
Question
Does my hon. Friend agree that the Conservatives have some nerve talking about top-down reorganisation when, against people’s wishes—as expressed in a poll—they imposed an unwanted and unpopular unitary council on the whole of Somerset...
Helen Morgan
LD
North Shropshire
Question
It is unclear for some areas, including Shropshire, where they will end up being made to form a combined authority... Does my hon. Friend agree that this needs to be better thought through...
Tiverton and Minehead
Question
A particular concern of my constituents in Tiverton and Minehead, where we have one local authority in Devon and one in Somerset, is the real difficulties around special educational needs and disabilities. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Bill could create difficulties for local authorities that are struggling to deliver good SEND education for so many of our children?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for her intervention. Special educational needs are a huge passion of mine—I am sure Members have heard me talk about them many times—and this issue will take so many councils to a very dark place. I trust that the Minister hears that on a regular basis and that we will see in the fair funding review something really serious about special educational needs provision.
Question
Does my hon. Friend share my concern that the Bill could make it more difficult for residents to access services, because where authorities that currently deliver services on a county-wide basis are split into multiple authorities, it will create borders within counties?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes a very good point.
Twickenham
Question
Communities such as Teddington in my constituency will very much welcome the new community right to buy. At Udney Park, playing fields have lain derelict for more than a decade. However, although the Bill makes provision for what happens when there is a disagreement over price, it is silent on what happens when a community bid is refused by a buyer even at market valuation. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Government must look to go further on that point?
Minister reply
I agree that there is opportunity to do much more as the Bill moves into Committee. Communities’ long struggles to save such assets is not because of a lack of passion or volunteers, but because the system feels stacked against them.
Roz Savage
LD
South Cotswolds
Question
To pick up on my hon. Friend’s point about environmental concern, at the moment local authorities have a weak duty on biodiversity—to consider from time to time what they might do to conserve or enhance biodiversity—so does she agree that the Bill offers a real opportunity to strengthen such environmental protections, to get this country back on track?
Minister reply
I believe that the community right to buy has huge opportunities for councils. In Committee, I hope that we will be able to improve and enhance the Bill for everyone.
Alison Taylor
Lab
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Question
I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, which includes the fact that I remain a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. My contribution is to assist the Secretary of State and the Government in ensuring that this important Bill will truly deliver on my right hon. Friend’s ambition for a transformative change in our communities—a vision that we share. Others in the House will want to articulate the advantages of devolving power and increasing strategic focus for the English regions, but I have expertise in commercial leases, so the House will forgive me for focusing on that one point.
The Bill represents a crucial step in the vital work of promoting economic growth and opportunity for our communities. Our constituents will all have witnessed at first hand how the previous Government’s failure to promote growth and support economic activity has contributed to the decline in the wellbeing of our communities.
Peter Fortune
Con
Bromley and Biggin Hill
Question
This Bill is supposed to be the Government’s flagship piece of legislation to empower England’s cities, regions and communities, but there is disappointingly little in it about strengthening accountability in existing devolved bodies, especially the Greater London Authority. It is right that power is returned to cities, regions and communities, but those who hold devolved power must also be held accountable for their decisions, actions and delivery.
Jack Abbott
Lab/Co-op
Ipswich
Question
Devolution and local government reorganisation must not simply be a sticking plaster over the problems of today; instead, we must determine what we want the coming decade to look like for our local communities. We must ensure that people in places such as Ipswich and Suffolk have the resources, powers and trust to determine our own futures.
Newton Abbot
Question
I draw the House’s attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests as someone who is still a sitting councillor. In fact, when I came into this place, I sat on three different councils, so I speak from a good history of local council knowledge. This Bill focuses on mayors, yet we hear about putting power in the hands of local people. Having a Mayor of Greater Manchester, which has a single identity, is quite different from having mayors in Devon, which is a vast area containing different sorts of places—let alone, perhaps, a mayor of Devon and Cornwall.
Epsom and Ewell
Question
The Government have claimed that the measures in this Bill, including merging councils, will save significant amounts of money. However, the County Councils Network has revealed that reorganisation could make no savings and cost money. Does my hon. Friend agree that the measures in this Bill are based on out-of-date reports that risk further bankrupting local authorities?
Iqbal Mohamed
Lab
Sheffield Central
Question
Does she agree that for Sheffield and her council the committee system has been better, more inclusive and more democratic for her residents than the original cabinet system?
Minister reply
The point made is about existing committee structures retaining their models rather than new committees.
Ely and East Cambridgeshire
Question
We can surely all agree that power should be devolved as close to communities as possible, because they know what is best for their areas far better than anyone else. Sadly, the Bill does not deliver that.
Minister reply
The Government's intention of devolution by default is commendable but it empowers regional mayors at the expense of local councils and the Secretary of State.
Andy MacNae
Lab
Rossendale and Darwen
Question
I enormously welcome this Bill. It is a thoroughly rare thing for a Government to seek to actively give up power, but this Government understand that we are going to deliver an economy that works for everyone.
Minister reply
The Bill at its heart is about putting power back in the hands of communities recognising that decisions should be made by those who know their communities best and who are fully accountable for the consequences.
Bradley Thomas
Con
Bromsgrove
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that the Government’s devolution proposal is an urban-based model that cannot be applied to rural areas without fundamentally distorting their character?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend raises a valid point about the need for flexibility in applying the devolution model to accommodate different local contexts, including rural and suburban areas.
Sadik Al-Hassan
Lab
North Somerset
Question
Having served as a town councillor and deputy mayor, I have seen firsthand the need for reform of our local and very local council systems. How does this Bill address these inefficiencies?
Minister reply
The Bill prioritises reforms to the local audit system, aiming to establish a more coherent and reliable framework that enhances transparency, efficiency, and accountability within our local governance structures.
Joe Robertson
Con
Isle of Wight East
Question
The MP questions whether the Bill truly empowers local residents by highlighting how islanders will lose their say in governance decisions due to fusion with Hampshire, and criticises the lack of powers over local transport issues like ferries. He also mentions concerns about ringfenced funding for the Isle of Wight.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the MP's points but emphasises that the Bill aims to establish professional regulation fees paid by councils based on the number of councillors, enabling monitoring officers to perform their oversight function effectively.
Perran Moon
Lab
Camborne and Redruth
Question
The MP supports the Prime Minister's commitment to Cornish national minority status but raises concerns about how the Bill impacts Cornwall’s unique constitutional status. He highlights historical contexts and current legal agreements that define Cornwall as a distinct territory, questioning whether the devolution powers proposed in the Bill align with these traditions.
Minister reply
The minister responds by reiterating the Government's commitment to addressing unacceptable behaviours in local councils through professional regulation fees paid by councils based on the number of councillors, ensuring monitoring officers can perform their oversight function effectively.
Ian Sollom
LD
St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire
Question
When the Government get something right, it is important to acknowledge that. The community right-to-buy provisions in the Bill represent the genuine empowerment that constituents need... However, on skills—one of the most critical challenges facing our economy—it creates institutional complexity and lacks accountability and clear lines of responsibility.
Emma Foody
Lab/Co-op
Cramlington and Killingworth
No extracted contribution text available for this contributor yet.
Ben Maguire
LD
North Cornwall
Question
I rise to make the case for Kernow, or Cornwall, and its unique status in this United Kingdom. My constituents have been crystal clear with me: Cornwall must never be forcibly joined with Devon or merged into any wider regional authority... It is about respecting our distinct status and history.
Rebecca Paul
Con
Reigate
Question
I want to emphasise the importance of ensuring that boroughs such as Reigate and Banstead, which have been managed well and are not loaded with debt, are not left footing the bill for the failures of other councils. I am delighted that the Harlequin theatre in Redhill has now received £4.5 million needed for repair but request clarity on how this reorganisation will affect projects such as these.
Minister reply
The local government reorganisation aims to provide a consistent model across England, which includes protection measures for well-managed boroughs like Reigate and Banstead. The theatre repairs are not expected to be hampered by the reorganisation, but we need to ensure that all communities receive fair treatment under the new framework.
Question
Does my hon. Friend agree that the historic Cornish constitutional status must be considered as part of the devolution discussion?
Minister reply
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. The Crowther and Kilbrandon report acknowledges Cornwall's unique relationship with the Crown, and it is crucial that this is respected in any discussions about devolution.
Chelmsford
Question
I also used to be a councillor, like many Members across the Chamber. I was deputy leader of Chelmsford city council for five years and an opposition member at Essex county council. I have seen at first hand the work of local councils and I know that they do it in very difficult circumstances—circumstances that have got harder and harder, with dwindling funds and increased demands on council services. Despite the very best efforts of council leaders across the country and council officers, this Bill takes away power from people who are most able to make decisions locally. It does not give councils the flexibility they need to respond to their local needs and it undermines their ability to work together.
Andrew Rosindell
Con
Romford
Question
Does she agree that as Havering is also part of Essex, we should be part of that discussion as well? If my borough wants to be part of an Essex unitary authority—such as Central Essex, which would include Chelford—does she agree that my constituents should have the right to make that decision in a democracy?
Alice Macdonald
Lab/Co-op
Norwich North
Question
Devolution is not just about power, it’s also about accountability and the ability of local people to hold those in power to account. This Bill will give us more tools to do that, but there are still questions around how we ensure that local government reorganisation delivers real benefits for communities and does not simply create a new layer of bureaucracy.
Bradley Thomas
Con
Bromsgrove
Question
While the current devolution plans in this Bill put politics before people, the Government are pressing ahead with the Bill without addressing the fundamental crisis in care. Local consent should be a priority throughout the devolution process and residents feel powerless in shaping the future of their towns and villages.
Minister reply
The proposals outlined in the Bill will not affect town and parish councils, which play vital roles in our communities. The aim is to work collaboratively across parties, listening to our residents to get the very best for our communities.
Jo Platt
Lab/Co-op
Leigh and Atherton
Question
The Bill offers a meaningful step forward by giving communities the tools to take ownership of their spaces. However, it fails to address fundamental issues such as the erosion of local democracy and the need for effective reform aligned with health, police, fire, and integrated care board structures.
Minister reply
While no council is perfect, I believe that councils work best when they are close to the people they serve. The proposals outlined in the Bill will not affect town and parish councils, which play vital roles in our communities.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
Question
It is a pleasure to speak on this important piece of legislation, and I declare my interest as a vice president of the Local Government Association. This Bill’s intention is to support further devolution—something that the Liberal Democrats are in favour of. However, the Bill fails to properly do so, and instead only reinforces the overly centralised approach taken by the last Government.
Olivia Blake
Lab
Sheffield Hallam
Question
I welcome the Bill and commend the Deputy Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Angela Rayner), for her leadership in bringing it forward.
Nick Timothy
Con
West Suffolk
Question
The Government talk about devolution, but that is not what is going on with the Bill, or with local government reform. Power is not being handed down by central Government, but being sucked up from district councils to unitaries and from councils to mayoralties, governing enormous and very diverse territories from distant towns and cities.
Lewes
Question
The Bill brands itself as “devolution by default”, but in practice it could be seen as centralisation by stealth. Real devolution shifts power out of Westminster and Whitehall to the people in local communities, but the Bill risks doing the opposite.
Josh Simons
Lab
Makerfield
Question
Our politics is not working. Too many people feel that what we do here has little relevance to their lives. They feel that their vote is less a source of power and a decision about our common future, and more an expression—the only way they have to demonstrate how bad the status quo has become.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
No extracted contribution text available for this contributor yet.
John Lamont
Con
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Question
In Scotland, we have so-called devolution, but the reality on the ground is that the Scottish Government are centralising more and more power. Does my hon. Friend share my concern that the Bill creates the potential risk of that?
Minister reply
I absolutely share that concern, and I will give my hon. Friend an example of what we face across the Bradford district; the people across Keighley and Ilkley have long known the dangers to smaller communities when such amalgamations occur.
Andrew Rosindell
Con
Romford
Question
My friend is making some excellent points. The best example, which is from when this started, is the creation of Greater London in 1965. Ever since then, areas like Romford have been paying money into central London and losing our local control, local identity and local democracy, and it has been costing us an absolute fortune. Does my hon. Friend agree that the Bill is a lot of red tape and bureaucracy and the wrong direction to go in?
Minister reply
I absolutely agree. The Bill is not about local democracy; it is about taking the power for decision making away from local people on where their council tax should be spent.
Maya Ellis
Lab
Ribble Valley
Question
I draw attention to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. I have always been, and I remain, a vocal advocate for devolution and reorganisation... I will focus my comments on the most local level of our democratic structure: the role of town and parish councils, which I believe should be used to even greater effect if we let it.
Siân Berry
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Question
There are ideas in this Bill that devolve powers that we Greens can support. A layer of strategic government with funding and fundraising powers could empower areas of the country, such as Sussex, to improve daily life for our citizens and could strengthen democracy.
Terry Jermy
Lab
South West Norfolk
Question
The clauses in the Bill specifically around community empowerment are exciting and long overdue, but I wonder if the Minister could speak to my concerns about opportunities for rural communities. How will rural areas fit into strategic authorities?
Minister reply
I appreciate your concern regarding rural areas. We aim to ensure that all communities, including those in rural settings, have a voice and are supported through devolution. Strategic authorities will work closely with local councils and community groups to address unique challenges faced by rural communities.
Clive Jones
LD
Wokingham
Question
This Bill has missed the opportunity to introduce a fair voting system. The outdated first-past-the-post system distorts the will of the people while ignoring millions of voices across the country.
Minister reply
While we have taken steps towards a supplementary vote for mayoral elections, we recognise the need for further electoral reform and will continue to consider ways to ensure that every vote counts.
Mike Reader
Lab
Northampton South
Question
I cannot understand how anyone could speak against this Bill. It presents a real opportunity to do something different in our local communities, delivering accountability and growth.
Minister reply
Absolutely, the Bill drives growth by providing a single voice for investment in areas like the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor. PwC estimates that it will save between £500 million and £700 million a year for taxpayers.
Deirdre Costigan
Lab
Ealing Southall
Question
Does my hon. Friend agree that it will make a huge difference to Londoners that Transport for London will now have the power to hold those companies to account and clear the pavements?
Minister reply
I could not agree more. Having just one authority in Northampton is challenging, but centralising this responsibility at the local level will undoubtedly help address issues like e-scooter litter.
Darren Paffey
Lab
Southampton Itchen
Question
I really welcome this pivotal Bill. When I was deputy leader of Southampton city council, I saw at first hand how local decisions made by local people were transformative for the community, but I also saw over 14 long years of Conservative government how we were held back by a broken system that turned councils into supplicants, in constant competition with our neighbours, forced to put our begging bowl out for crumbs from Whitehall’s table. That ends with this Bill, and I really welcome the change that it represents and the measures it contains. What are the three basic tests that regional devolution must meet?
Amanda Martin
Lab
Portsmouth North
Question
As someone who also represents a constituency in Hampshire, I agree with my hon. Friend. In terms of the letter we have sent, would it not make more sense for boundary changes to be part of the process, as opposed to an add-on at the end?
Iqbal Mohamed
Ind
Dewsbury and Batley
Question
Instead of empowering communities, the Bill risks recentralising power and bypassing local ward councillors and local actors who truly represent our diverse communities. In Kirklees, we have a cabinet system: eight councillors, none of whom is from Dewsbury and Batley, make major decisions that have an impact on every single resident and constituent in my constituency. Moving to a mandated cabinet system across the country is short-sighted, undemocratic, biased and discriminatory.
Jonathan Brash
Lab
Hartlepool
Question
English devolution is a mess. It is a postcode patchwork of opaque systems, varying powers and unclear lines of accountability. That is not just an historical failure, but profoundly dangerous, because when the public cannot navigate their democracy or do not know who holds the pen on planning, transport, housing or skills, they understandably disengage. Accountability is lost, and in that vacuum politicians can get away with anything.
Wendy Morton
Con
Aldridge-Brownhills
Question
As an MP neighbouring Birmingham, how shocking is it that residents there are experiencing uncollected waste due to union strikes?
Minister reply
The Minister for Local Government and English Devolution did not directly answer this question in the given transcript.
Kevin Hollinrake
Con
Thirsk and Malton
Question
They had no choice!
Minister reply
They absolutely had a choice. It was an invitation that 21 counties responded to, demonstrating the interest in reorganisation.
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