Local government reorganisation is rapidly becoming a reality. From the announcement of new structures for almost all the remaining areas earlier this month, to the appointment of the first chief of East Surrey Council, restructuring is moving ahead at pace.
The timing of the new unitaries announcement, in the dying days of the Starmer Government, has given new Prime Minister Andy Burnham a huge get-out clause if things go wrong. Announced by the former communities secretary Steve Reed, there is a conveniently pre-escaped scapegoat, while Angela Rayner and Jim McMahon have come back to finish what they started.
