The resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sparked questions in Staffordshire on whether plans to abolish current councils will go ahead or not.

Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the area's eight district and borough councils all face the axe, to be replaced by a unitary authority system in 2028, as part of local government reorganisation in England.

A number of proposals for future councils have been put forward to the Government, including northern and southern Staffordshire authorities or and east/west divide.

A Government announcement on the new council system has been expected before the Parliamentary recess on July 17 – but Sir Kier Starmer's announcement last week that he would be stepping down as Labour leader and Prime Minister has led to uncertainty in Staffordshire about local government reorganisation and a call for his successor at 10 Downing Street to scrap the scheme altogether.

Members of Stafford Borough Council's Resources Scrutiny Committee were given an update on local government reorganisation at their latest meeting. Cllr Roy James asked: "Is this going to be affected by the resignation of the current Prime Minister?"

Judith Aupers, the council's head of transformation and assurance, told the committee: "We don't know at the moment. I think there's been various rumours along the way because some of the councils who have already had their announcements have mounted challenges.

"We've not heard anything official to suggest it will be delayed.

"We're still waiting on the decision on what the unitary status will be for Staffordshire and we're still expecting that by 16th July.

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"We had hoped by now of a decision on having strategic authorities – we got our submission in on that some time ago.

"At local level we have work going on behind the scenes – we're working across the county with all the councils, including the county and Stoke-on-Trent.

"It's really just about collecting data at the moment, we're mindful there's not a lot we can do until we get a decision but an awful lot of data we all hold."

Speaking at Cannock Chase Council's Responsible Council Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday (29 June), committee chair Cllr Darrell Mawle said: "Until now there has been certainty.

"There is a bit of uncertainty now which throws everything up in the air, whether the council is going to be here in 2028 or not."

Newcastle Borough Council's Conservative Opposition Leader Simon Tagg presented a "Save Our Borough" petition to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in London.

His visit to the capital on June 22 took place on the same day as Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation.

The petition urges the Government to scrap plans for forced council mergers in Staffordshire, respect the views of local residents and councils and retain the current structure of local government where it is working effectively.

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It raises concerns that forced reorganisation will remove decision-making from local communities, reduce accountability, deliver no clear benefits to residents and undermine the borough's identity and independence

Cllr Tagg said: "The Save Our Borough petition demonstrates the strength of feeling across the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Over 11,000 residents have made it clear that they do not support forced reorganisation or the loss of our borough's independence.

"At a time of national political change, with a new Prime Minister incoming, this is the moment for Government to listen and change course.

"These proposals risk undermining local democracy and imposing structures that do not reflect the wishes of our communities.

"Local government reorganisation and merging away historic council areas wasn't in the Labour Party's 2024 manifesto.

"If Andy Burham because Prime Minister, I urge him to pause and rethink this unpopular policy."