Labour has been accused of gerrymandering after it was revealed new councils will be created in 14 areas of England.
The latest shake-up of local government will affect more than 130 existing authorities.
Ministers claim the reorganisation will create “strong” councils by abolishing the system of two-tier government and replacing it with single, unitary authorities.
However, Sir James Cleverly, the shadow local government secretary, branded the move as “clearly gerrymandered”, arguing the new boundaries have been drawn to systematically favour Labour at local elections.
The redrawn map appears to dilute Conservative-leaning rural votes by merging them into urban, Labour-leaning administrative hubs.
Under the new plans, the boundaries of the Labour-run Nottingham City Council are expanding to create a new “Greater Nottingham Council”.
This new hub will absorb heavily Conservative-voting, affluent suburban and rural border towns from districts like Rushcliffe, Broxtowe, and Gedling.
Criticising outgoing local government secretary Steve Reed on Thursday, Sir James said: “This is blatant. These changes, like so many decisions, have been driven by party politics…
“Nothing in today’s statement has done anything to dispel the belief that this is purely partisan. Many communities have been left in limbo, while Labour councils have been allowed to redraw the map on which future elections that they will be engaged in will be fought.”
GB News has mapped all areas affected by the changes
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GB NEWS/GETTY
He added: “If he wanted accusations of gerrymandering to be put aside, why on earth did he create such a clearly gerrymandered set of boundaries? The maps speak for themselves.”
Sir James explained: “In Devon, he’s accepted the proposals put forward by Labour-run Exeter and Plymouth.
“In Leicester, he has accepted the submissions by a Labour-controlled council. In Nottingham, he has accepted the proposal put forward by the Labour-run city council.
“I could go on and on and on, but time does not permit.
“How on earth can the Secretary of State expect anyone to believe that this process has been politically impartial?”
Sir James Cleverly branded the move as ‘clearly gerrymandered’
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GB NEWSMr Reed, who was sacked by Andy Burnham yesterday, said: “Unfortunately, the facts don’t support the claims that he’s making.
“The majority of proposals that I’ve just outlined today as decisions have cross-party support.
“I accept that reasonable people may agree or they may disagree with the decisions, but the important thing now for residents is that we move ahead to realise the savings.”
Mr Reed has said the reorganisation of local councils in England “will have cut the number of councils from 317 to a maximum of 173.”
Steve Reed was sacked by Andy Burnham yesterday
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GB NEWSHe told MPs: “Once all decisions are taken, we will have cut the number of councils from 317 to a maximum of 173. This will simplify and strengthen local government serving over 20 million people and reorganisation’ll also support city growth.”
Mr Reed previously said: “This Government is driving the most ambitious programme of local government reform in a generation, replacing the inefficient two-tier system with new unitary councils so that all parts of our country are ready for devolution.
“We need to devolve power out of Whitehall so that we can rebalance wealth, power and opportunity right across this country.
“This is the second-richest country in Europe and yet England has seven of the 10 poorest regions in Northern Europe, that is the case for change.”
GB News has mapped all areas affected by the changes
- Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen
- Derbyshire and Derby
- Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
- East Sussex and Brighton and Hove
- Gloucestershire
- Hertfordshire
- Kent and Medway
- Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
- Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and Northeast Lincolnshire
- Nottinghamshire and Nottingham
- Oxfordshire
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
- Warwickshire
- Worcestershire