MPs argue over Cambridgeshire council restructures in Westminster debate

Conservative Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty secured a Westminster Hall debate about Local Government Reorganisation for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough on September 1.

From April 2028, the seven current county, district, city and unitary councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will be replaced by two or three new ‘unitary councils’ responsible for providing all the council services.

Government officials confirmed in the summer that the information submitted in support of all unitary options (A, B, D and E) for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area was comprehensive, with no further evidence required — but a final decision was delayed until the autumn.

Mr Obese-Jecty, who backed Option E which would create a sole Huntingdonshire unitary, raised concerns over Option D which would see Huntingdonshire split in two — an option backed by Peterborough City Council and the two Labour MPs Sam Carling and Andrew Pakes.

He insinuated that Option D was already a done deal and would be the option chosen by government.

“So here we are in September with no decision having yet been made as we await the announcement of what we fear will be a stitched-up local government reorganisation in favour of a gerrymandered pork barrel option that even Labour councillors in Huntingdonshire despise,” Mr Obese-Jecty said in the debate.

Mr Carling, MP for North West Cambridgeshire, said he was “troubled by the unpleasant allegations” Mr Obese-Jecty had made regarding LGR.

“The hon. gentleman is raising process concerns. I am sure we all want to see a proper process,” Mr Carling said.

“Why was it that he went on to social media and made quite a large number of claims about Labour MPs being pre-briefed of an apparent announcement that never happened—claims that therefore cannot possibly have been true, and were not?”

Mr Obese-Jecty responded: “I would bounce that back at the hon. member and ask him why he never came to me or any of the other Huntingdonshire MPs to ask about proposing an option that would split Huntingdonshire in two.”

Jim McMahon, Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Growth, said the decision to delay the government’s final choice on LGR was “not taken lightly” and said it was not helpful to make accusations that seemed to cast aspersions on the process.

He said: “We will aim to make decisions on which option, if any, to implement on or before October this year.

“That will still allow for elections to new councils in May 2027 before they go live in April 2028.

“I am grateful to the hon. member, and to other MPs and councils in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, for their efforts to date.

“I assure him and them that we remain absolutely committed to delivering reorganisation across the area, and we will provide further updates shortly.”

After the debate, Mr Carling said he was “really disappointed” to see a neighbouring MP “make untrue claims” alleging the government had already decided how the new councils would be shaped.

“Any comments alleging there’s a preferred option, or that particular parties have been given leaked information, are untrue and are damaging public confidence in the process,” he said.

Options for LGR

Four options for LGR were submitted to government by the current authorities in the region.

The government will make a decision on which to implement by October.

Option A: Proposed two unitary councils by splitting the region north-west/south-east.

Unitary 1: Peterborough City Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, and Fenland District Council.

Unitary 2: Cambridge City Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Option B: Proposed two unitary councils supported by Cambridge City, East Cambridgeshire, and South Cambridgeshire.

Greater Cambridge: Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire.

North Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: Peterborough, Fenland, Huntingdonshire, and East Cambridgeshire.

Option D: Proposed three unitary councils with a “Greater Peterborough” focus, backed by Peterborough City Council. It includes an authority combining Peterborough and western Huntingdonshire, plus a Mid-Cambridgeshire authority and Greater Cambridge authority.

Option E: Proposed three unitary councils put forward by Huntingdonshire District Council (split into North East, Central Huntingdonshire, and Greater Cambridge).