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Bills · Became law

Local government and devolution in England

The bill has been signed off by the King and is now law.

In plain words

This law moves more decisions from central government to local areas in England. It creates new regional authorities, lets the government direct councils to propose reorganisation, and changes how councils' accounts are checked.

Summary drafted by AI, checked by Jonathan on 4 Oct 2026. Source: Parliament Library briefing.

Official title: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026

  1. 1Introduced1st reading
  2. 2Main debate2nd reading
  3. 3Detailed checksCommittee
  4. 4ChangesReport stage
  5. 5Final vote3rd reading
  6. 6Other houseLords or Commons
  7. 7Becomes lawRoyal Assent

Nothing more. This bill is now law.

Put forward by Angela Rayner, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage.

Votes so far

DateVoteCountResult
27 Apr 2026Local government and devolution in England: changes from the House of Lords271 for, 171 againstAgreed
27 Apr 2026Local government and devolution in England: changes from the House of Lords269 for, 170 againstAgreed
27 Apr 2026Local government and devolution in England: changes from the House of Lords270 for, 170 againstAgreed
27 Apr 2026Local government and devolution in England: changes from the House of Lords273 for, 167 againstAgreed
21 Apr 2026Local government and devolution in England: changes from the House of Lords287 for, 150 againstAgreed
21 Apr 2026Local government and devolution in England: changes from the House of Lords284 for, 149 againstAgreed
21 Apr 2026Local government and devolution in England: changes from the House of Lords291 for, 144 againstAgreed
21 Apr 2026Local government and devolution in England: changes from the House of Lords288 for, 147 againstAgreed
21 Apr 2026Local government and devolution in England: changes from the House of Lords287 for, 149 againstAgreed
21 Apr 2026Local government and devolution in England: changes from the House of Lords297 for, 147 againstAgreed

10 older votes not shown. All votes

Votes in the Lords

DateVoteCountResult
27 Apr 2026Lords vote 5199 content, 144 not contentAgreed
27 Apr 2026Lords vote 458 content, 138 not contentRejected
27 Apr 2026Lords vote 3210 content, 145 not contentAgreed
27 Apr 2026Lords vote 2217 content, 145 not contentAgreed
23 Apr 2026Lords vote 7199 content, 146 not contentAgreed
23 Apr 2026Lords vote 6208 content, 138 not contentAgreed
23 Apr 2026Lords vote 5197 content, 144 not contentAgreed
23 Apr 2026Lords vote 4207 content, 141 not contentAgreed
23 Apr 2026Lords vote 3209 content, 145 not contentAgreed
23 Apr 2026Lords vote 2152 content, 207 not contentRejected
Full timeline
DateStageHouse
10 Jul 20251st readingCommons
2 Sep 20252nd readingCommons
2 Sep 2025Programme motionCommons
2 Sep 2025Money resolutionCommons
2 Sep 2025Ways and Means resolutionCommons
16 Sep 2025, 14 Oct 2025, 16 Oct 2025Committee stageCommons
24 Nov 2025Programme motionCommons
24 Nov 2025, 25 Nov 2025Report stageCommons
25 Nov 20253rd readingCommons
27 Nov 20251st readingLords
8 Dec 20252nd readingLords
20 Jan 2026, 27 Jan 2026, 29 Jan 2026Committee stageLords
24 Mar 2026, 26 Mar 2026, 13 Apr 2026Report stageLords
15 Apr 20263rd readingLords
21 Apr 2026Programme motionCommons
21 Apr 2026Consideration of Lords amendmentsCommons
23 Apr 2026Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasonsLords
27 Apr 2026Consideration of Lords messageCommons
27 Apr 2026Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasonsLords
28 Apr 2026Consideration of Lords messageCommons

In the bill’s own words: A Bill to make provision about combined authorities, combined county authorities, the Greater London Authority, local councils, police and crime commissioners and fire and rescue authorities, local audit and terms in business tenancies about rent.

Official page on Parliament’s site

Source: Parliament Bills API · Commons votes from the Commons Votes API.