Written question asked by Olivia Blake (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 July 2026. It was answered by Alison McGovern (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Local Government: Recall Petitions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will introduce recall petition powers for communities in relation to their elected council representatives.

Answer: The government is not currently proposing to introduce recall petition powers for councillors. Instead, we are committed to strengthening the local government standards regime through a comprehensive package of reforms. The government response to the ‘Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England’ consultation, published in November 2025, states our intention to legislate for a clearer and more consistently applied conduct system that will help local elected members to hold themselves and their colleagues to account in meeting the high standards and conduct their roles demand and the public have a right to expect.

Secondary information