Preston’s MP has delivered a stinging slap down to the city council leader as tensions within the Labour group boiled over at the announcement of the proposed new shape of Lancashire councils.
Sir Mark Hendrick MP has branded the plan for four unitary authorities as a ‘fig leaf’ solution and accused his fellow senior Labour politician of ‘putting a very brave face on it’.
The veteran Labour MP’s comments came as it was confirmed Preston would merge with Lancaster and Ribble Valley in a new super council covering the North of Lancashire.
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Three other unitary authorities – which will take on responsibility for all services from bins, parks, adult social care to schools and everything in-between – have also been confirmed covering the West, East and South of Lancashire.
Councillor Matthew Brown, who in 2024 was pushing a ‘Greater Preston’ unitary council which was rebuffed as unworkable and also failed to attract support from the areas around the city, had said he was ‘absolutely delighted’ with the local government reorganisation proposal the government is due to recommend in Parliament.
But Sir Mark said on X in direct response to Cllr Brown: “Matthew, you are putting a very brave face on it. From a Town given a Borough Charter in 1179 by King Henry II, upgraded to City Status over 800 years later in 2002 by Queen Elizabeth II, this reorganisation is removing any powers Preston has as a local authority.
“From your publically expressed wishes for a “Greater Preston” in Dec 2024, we are now seeing the absorption of Preston and Central Lancashire into a new North Lancashire Authority. A reverse takeover if there ever was one. This is a ‘fig leaf’ of a solution you opted for, after your climb down from a “Greater Preston” model.”
Cllr Brown’s former deputy leader and Town Hall money man, councillor Martyn Rawlinson, accused the government of ‘cultural vandalism’ with the new council set up as he re-shared a BBC story this morning about the council shake-up.
Preston’s official position, which has cross-party support, was for a tie up with the Ribble Valley and Lancaster – after it was made clear the government would not accept redrawing any council boundary lines meaning the existing councils must slot into new larger authorities.
Cllr Brown said in response to the government’s announcement: “Today’s announcement on the future of Local Government in Lancashire marks an important milestone for Preston and the County of Lancashire and heralds a new and exciting time for us all.
“We warmly welcome our new unitary partners Lancaster City and Ribble Valley and recognise and understand the importance of place. Each town, city and village including Lancaster and Morecambe, Longridge, Clitheroe and the many communities in between, has its own unique character, needs and ambitions. Together we will make up a new larger, stronger, unitary authority.
“Lancashire councils have been working closely together to prepare for this decision and that collaboration puts us in a strong position to manage the change effectively, with real opportunity to create something really positive for our residents, communities and businesses.
“We look forward to working with our new unitary partners, sharing more services and ambitions1, and particularly in progressing the work that Preston has undertaken on Community Wealth Building, ensuring that this becomes a core design principle in the new authority. We will be advocating for a formal community wealth building strategy linked explicitly to child poverty reduction as well as shared anti-poverty and inclusive economy objectives across economic development, housing and public health.
“The new unitary council will boast excellent transport connectivity across a network of vibrant communities, including two economically thriving pioneering cities, stunning coastlines and countryside, internationally renowned universities and educational institutions, and an abundance of areas of outstanding natural beauty and historical significance.
“We cannot underestimate how big this change is for us all, and it will take time and careful management, but it will bring with it some amazing new opportunities for growth and prosperity across the County.
“For now, we must stress it is business as usual. It’s too early to even know what our new unitary authority’s name will be and, although Preston City Council will cease in name, our priorities and ambitions remain unchanged – to continue to deliver high-quality, local services and ongoing support for the people of Preston.”
Opposition leader at the city council, Lib Dem councillor John Potter, had supported the Ribble Valley and Lancaster link-up and said he thought local government reorganisation, particularly the abolition of the current Lancashire County Council, was a positive.
He said: “I think Preston has come out of it well. I think that Preston, Ribble Valley and Lancaster pairing will be very good for that whole area. It looks like it will be a really strong unitary.
“I will be glad to see the back of Lancashire County Council.
“I’ve had a good relationship with the staff because I’ve been a county councillor for over eight years now, but it is woefully inefficient.
“Whether it’s on social care, highways, any of these issues, schools, it’s time for a change.”
Reform’s Preston group, which has five councillors on the city council, say they will be opposing the plans.
They said: “Let us be clear. Reform UK did not ask for this. This is Labour’s top down reorganisation, imposed on Lancashire from Westminster, and we oppose it.
“Reform UK councillors across the county will be at the table throughout this process. Our job is simple. Protect frontline services. Cut waste and duplication. Make sure your voice is heard in the new structures.”
The Reform-led county council had pushed for a two mega councils, one covering the North of Lancashire and another covering the South, with the leader of the county council and Reform leader Stephen Atkinson publicly saying he did not believe in local government reorganisation and thought the existing two-tier county and district council set up should continue.
Labour MP Maya Ellis, who represents the Ribble Valley and a big swathe of Preston and South Ribble falls into her constituency, also welcomed the proposals.
She said: “We now have clarity on which proposal will be taken forward for Local Government Reorganisation in Lancashire. The government has opted to create four unitary authorities as part of local government reorganisation for Lancashire.
“The ‘Four Unitary Option A’ creates four council areas – South Lancashire, North Lancashire, Pennine Lancashire and the Fylde Coast.
“My constituency is already split between different councils and that will carry on, with constituents in Preston and Ribble Valley catered for by North Lancashire and South Ribble residents falling under South Lancashire.
“I backed this model because these four areas reflect key geographical areas and strategic focuses of different parts of the county. By grouping areas with shared challenges and opportunities, each unitary authority can focus on the priorities that best represent its communities and strengths.
“Now I’ll be working with the existing leaders of Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council, Ribble Valley Borough Council and South Ribble Borough Council and the new North Lancashire and South Lancashire authorities to ensure a smooth transition.
“Ultimately, I still believe most residents don’t mind too much how these unitary authorities are structured, as long as basic services like filling in potholes, collecting bins and support for SEND in schools are delivered well.
“I’m hoping the average resident sees very little disruption, but I also hope those services will be improved by closer working, which local government reorganisation was designed to tackle.
“I look forward to the shadow elections in May 2027, which will be used to elect shadow councillors who will work alongside existing councillors for a year until the unitary authorities come to full power in 2028.”
South Ribble, Chorley and West Lancashire are to form a new southern Lancashire council – which has been lobbied extremely hard for by Chorley MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle – despite many arguments by the business community for a larger central Lancashire council with Preston as an urban centre. The South Ribble and Chorley councils already share many services across both councils and have begun extending into West Lancashire too in recent months.
Elsewhere the east of the county has seen Labour MP Oliver Ryan react with fury to Burnley being paired with Blackburn in a new ‘Pennine Lancashire’ council and Conservative MP for Fylde, Andrew Snowden, has called for people to ‘unite and fight Labour at every stage’ over the Fylde and Wyre being merged with Blackpool in a Fylde Coast super council.
