Government assures Lancaster will keep city status in reorganisation

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 17:40 · Archive

The Government has given assurance that Lancaster will not lose its city status during local government reorganisation in Lancashire.

The Government has confirmed that Lancaster will not lose its city status as a result of local government reorganisation in Lancashire. Lancaster and Wyre MP Cat Smith raised concerns in Parliament about whether the city would retain its status if Lancaster City Council was abolished as part of the proposed changes.

Speaking in Parliament, Ms Smith asked for reassurance that Lancaster would keep its city status during the reorganisation. The Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Growth, Jim McMahon, responded by giving what he described as an 'absolute assurance' that no existing city would lose its status as a consequence of the changes.

Mr McMahon said it would be 'absolutely wrong' if a city lost its status simply because the local authority it was aligned to was abolished. He committed that 'whether we have to even move new legislation to preserve it, whatever we have to do, there will not be a current city that loses its status through reorganisation'. Following the exchange, Ms Smith welcomed the Government's commitment.

How it is being reported

• Government gives 'absolute assurance' North West city will keep statusLancaster will not lose its city status as a result of local government reorganisation.Lancashire Telegraph · 29 Oct, 17:00
• MP secures protected city status for LancasterLancaster and Wyre MP Cat Smith has welcomed clear Government assurance that Lancaster will not lose its city status as a result of local government reorganisation in Lancashire.Lancaster Guardian · 29 Oct, 14:34

In this story: Lancaster · Cat Smith · Jim McMahon · Lancashire

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