Heritage Party – Formal Opposition to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill

“It is constitutionally grotesque for any government to legislate in order to authorise itself to bypass democratic consent and impose political restructuring by decree. The introduction of a Bill that seeks to remove the requirement for public approval in the reorganisation of elected local government cannot be viewed as reform – it is, in effect, an attempt to write dictatorship into statute.“

The Heritage Party has submitted a formal objection to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, introduced by the government in July 2025.

For several years, the Heritage Party has been actively resisting the restructuring of local government under the banners of “devolution,” “community empowerment,” and “governance reform.” These labels have been used to mask a coordinated programme of structural change which, in reality, removes democratic accountability and transfers power to regional mayors, appointed boards, and unelected partnerships.

Our correspondence with government departments, local authorities, and Members of Parliament—backed by FOI evidence—has revealed that this reorganisation is being carried out without public consent, without full council approval, and in ways that may be legally unsound.

Now, the government has introduced a Bill to retroactively legalise these actions and remove the need for consultation in future decisions. If passed, this Bill would allow central government to override local objections and permanently restructure elected institutions without a vote.

What the Bill Says vs. What It Really Means

🔗 Read our formal opposition letter here