The UK government is conducting a rapid review of its Local Government Reorganisation programme after withdrawing current decisions covering Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock; Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton; Norfolk; and Suffolk. The review includes decisions taken in July 2026 and the two areas still awaiting decisions: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and West Sussex. Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth Jim McMahon OBE MP wrote to council leaders on 7 September 2026, while the Secretary of State announced the measures in an oral statement to Parliament the same day. Implementation work on July's decisions is paused, and May 2027 local elections will proceed under existing council boundaries. The decision affecting Surrey is not covered by the withdrawal.