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The New Statesman | UK politics and culture

The rise of the "super-council" - plus, assisted dying interview with Kim Leadbeater

Feb 14, 2025
Rachel Cunliffe, Associate Political Editor for the New Statesman, and Megan Kenyon, a Policy Correspondent known for her insightful reporting, join to discuss significant local council changes in the UK. They delve into claims that the merging of councils, dubbed 'super-councils,' could undermine democracy and voters’ rights. Additionally, Megan interviews Kim Leadbeater about the pressing topic of assisted dying legislation, addressing safeguards and the balance between choice and coercion in this sensitive debate.
28:13

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The postponement of local elections for nine councils highlights concerns over democratic input and potential political manipulation favoring Labour.
  • The debates surrounding the Assisted Dying Bill reveal significant tensions between legislative progress and the protection of vulnerable individuals' rights.

Deep dives

Local Council Elections and Devolution Plans

The decision to postpone local elections for nine councils is primarily driven by new devolution plans which aim to merge district and county councils into unitary authorities. This is intended to streamline local governance and provide more power at a local level, but many residents feel disenfranchised as their councils opted for these changes without direct input from the community. Though local councils applied for the change, the perception remains that residents were not adequately consulted. The effectiveness of such unitary authorities remains uncertain, as past reorganizations have led to financial difficulties in some regions.

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