Legal Challenges Halt Council Reorganisation Elsewhere – But Surrey Is Unaffected

Published on: 7 Sep, 2026
Updated on: 7 Sep, 2026

Surrey is being divided into two unitary authorities: East and West Surrey.

By Martin Giles

Surrey will proceed with local government reorganisation next year despite a Government decision to withdraw plans for new unitary authorities in four counties, following legal challenges from Reform councils.

The counties affected are Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Meanwhile, plans for 14 other areas will also be reviewed and paused.

The reorganisation here in Surrey, where councillors for two new unitary authorities were elected in May this year, will, the Government says, not be affected by the review.

The Government confirmed that local elections in May 2027, in those counties affected, would go ahead on existing council boundaries.

Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local
Government

But in Surrey progress toward the two new unitaries, East and West Surrey, proceeds despite Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner telling Parliament that: “In light of legal advice, I want to satisfy myself firstly that the right process is in place, that it is robust, and of course complies with the law.”

She added: “And secondly, I want to fully test whether our proposals for local government reorganisation meet the priorities of a new administration and a new Prime Minister and any additional considerations.”.

Rayner acknowledged the announcement was “disappointing” but insisted the Government was “determined more than ever to devolve power closer to the people we represent” – a key priority of new PM Andy Burnham. How that can be reconciled with the removal of lower tier authorities has yet to be explained.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Reform UK not only argued that this Government’s plans for local government reorganisation were an unmitigated disaster, but we once again put our money where our mouth is.”

He added: “Thanks to our judicial reviews in affected Reform-led councils, the Government has backed down on their plans yet again.”

Conservative shadow local government minister David Simmonds said it was a “humiliation” for the Government.

Guildford’s MP, Zöe Franklin

He said: “Ministers are only backing off because they have been found out in the face of relentless Conservative opposition to their gerrymandering.”

Liberal Democrat local government spokeswoman Zöe Franklin said: “This is an embarrassing and chaotic climbdown, which has resulted in already cash-strapped councils wasting huge sums on plans the Government told them were legally watertight.”

Cllr Steve Wotton

This evening (September 7) in a press release from Surrey County Council, Cllr Steve Wotton, Leader of East Surrey Shadow Council, said: “Government has been clear that Surrey’s local government reorganisation programme remains on track.

“Councils across Surrey have worked at pace to develop robust proposals that will deliver long-term benefits for residents, businesses and communities. We remain confident that reorganisation will create stronger, more sustainable local government and help us deliver better outcomes for local people.”

Cllr Paul Follows

Cllr Paul Follows, Leader of West Surrey Shadow Council, said: “Significant progress has already been made, and partners across Surrey continue to work constructively together to prepare for the new arrangements.

“We remain committed to delivering reorganisation successfully and ensuring that residents, colleagues and partners are supported throughout the transition.”

The council press release said: “While councils are reviewing the details of the announcement, MHCLG (the Ministry of Housing) and Surrey leaders remain confident that the county’s programme remains on track and that the work undertaken to date provides a strong foundation for the creation of the two new unitary councils on 1 April 2027.

“Significant work has been carried out across Surrey over the past year to develop proposals, engage with partners and communities, and prepare for the transition to new councils that will simplify local government, strengthen local accountability and improve services for residents.

“The councils will continue to work closely with Government, partners, councillors and staff as preparations continue for the establishment of East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council in April 2027.

“Residents will continue to receive services as normal throughout the transition period, while work progresses to ensure the new councils are ready to serve their communities from day one.”

Cllr Follows has agreed to be interviewed by Dragon editor Martin Giles tomorrow (September 8). Please check back.

Bernard Quoroll, former CEO

Dragon contributor Bernard Quoroll, who has many years of experience as a CEO in local authorities of various types, commented on the news: “If so many councils have found illegality in the process, and the Government has folded, it is hard to understand why anyone should claim that making a structural change order puts the matter beyond challenge in Surrey.

“If it was based on an unlawful process, what follows is surely unlawful too, as when Parliament was prorogued.  It should not be beyond the resources of any current council to seek an opinion from one of the senior barristers already acting for one of the many councils who already have their lawyers in play.

“I cannot see the current shadow council doing that because turkeys don’t vote for Christmas, and the Lib Dems won comfortable majorities in East and West Surrey in May. But given the massive debt burden heading our way,  it is at  least incumbent on the existing councils, collectively or individually, to find out why it is beyond challenge, with chapter and verse.  Not doing so would be a massive breach of faith.”

And one Lib Dem councillor told The Dragon: “It’s a shitshow, to be honest. It leaves Surrey in a really awful situation. Being the odd one out is never helpful.”

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