- 02/09/2025
- Posted by: Valerie Vaz MP
- Category: Local News, News
The House of Commons debated the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill for its Second Reading on 2 September 2025.
This Bill reforms local government in England and gives communities the right to shape their local areas. It will also restore the supplementary vote system for mayoral elections in England, and police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales. Given the large populations represented by mayors and police and crime commissioners far exceed the size of constituencies represented by MPs, this makes Mayors more accountable to their electorate including a Public Accounts Committee to scrutinise their spending.
At Second Reading, I voted Aye : Ayes: 365 and Noes: 164
Reasoned Amendment: I voted No : Aye: 167 and Noes: 367
The Bill will be scrutinised in a Public Bill Committee and I have been appointed to Chair the Bill Committee sessions.