‘Political hypocrisy’ versus ‘reckless decision’: Reform leader and opposition continue row over West Northamptonshire Local Plan

The latest exchange follows a decision by Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, to use statutory powers to direct WNC to continue with its existing draft Regulation 19 Local Plan.

It came after the council’s Planning Policy Committee voted on Monday, September 14, to scrap years of work and restart the process using the 2026 National Planning Policy Framework and Town and Country Planning Regulations 2026.

The Government has directed WNC to launch the Regulation 19 consultation on the existing plan by October 5 for at least six weeks and submit it by December 31.

Councillor Mark Arnull, leader of WNC and its Reform UK group, has now stepped up his criticism of the intervention.

He said: “Labour promised the biggest transfer of power from Westminster in a generation. What we have actually seen is the biggest display of political hypocrisy in a generation.

“While Andy Burnham makes speeches about trusting local communities, Labour ministers are busy overturning the decisions of local communities.

“West Northamptonshire Council was elected by local residents. Matthew Pennycook was not elected by the people of West Northamptonshire. Yet Labour believes his judgment should override theirs.”

Councillor Arnull said the situation was an example of why trust in politics was “collapsing”.

He added: “Voters are told they have a voice, they elect representatives, those representatives make a decision, and then Whitehall simply overrules it.

“Labour’s message is clear: local democracy is acceptable only when it produces the answer Labour wants.”

But Labour group leader Councillor Sally Keeble defended the intervention, arguing governments have an obligation to step in when local administrations fail to discharge their basic responsibilities.

She said: “The Labour Government was right to intervene now to ensure there is progress with the Local Plan, which has been developed by both the previous Conservative and present Reform administrations with extensive public consultation.

“Local plans never deliver what everyone wants, but they are essential, especially in a growth area like ours.”

Councillor Keeble, who attended the committee meeting, said she saw a number of Reform councillors reject the plan “without due regard to the legal, practical and financial consequences of that decision”.

She added: “It was a reckless decision that would have cost the council over £1 million. Worse, it would have failed to protect the public interest.”

The existing plan had reached an advanced stage following years of work and four rounds of consultation, with more than 6,000 responses received during the latest consultation.

Reform councillors voted to start again after arguing the council needed to take account of residents’ concerns and changes to national planning policy.

WNC has until September 29 to outline any exceptional circumstances it believes mean the Government’s intervention is inappropriate.