What Angela Rayner's super councils could look like: The areas lined up to get new mayors as new Labour stealth tax fears grow over plan to merge local authorities

Fears are rising about the implications of Labour's plan to create 'super-councils' under local authority reform that has been accused of providing cover for tax rises. The reforms may also force councils to delay elections organised for May 2025 as two-tier authorities are replaced with 'strategic authorities' Unveiling the plans yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner said England will go from one of the 'most centralised' nations to one where local leaders 'with skin in the game' have significant powers. And there was also pushback in the Commons from Labour MPs, with Cat Smith, who represents Lancaster and Wyre, warning Local Government Minister Jim McMahon: 'To many of my constituents, this looks a lot like a one-size-fits-all model that works for Greater Manchester, which he represents quite ably, but doesn't necessarily work for the rural English counties.' Unveiling the plans yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner said England will go from one of the 'most centralised' nations to one where local leaders 'with skin in the game' have significant powers. But she was accused of giving local people power with one hand while taking away democracy with the other after suggesting that authorities undergoing reorganisation could see their 2025 elections delayed.