UK pauses nine of 14 planned council mergers for legal review

The UK government has delayed nine of 14 planned mergers of smaller councils into larger unitary authorities while it seeks legal clarity. Minister Jim McMahon told MPs only East Sussex, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire will proceed after three more weeks of consultation. Areas including Kent, Devon and Lancashire are on hold. Shadow minister Katie Lam called it a farce.