Politicians in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire have called on the government to prioritise devolution following the decision to pause the planned revamp of local councils.

Communities Secretary Angela Rayner announced on Monday that local government reorganisation (LGR) in Staffordshire would be paused and reviewed following updated legal advice.

The government made the decision in July to abolish all 10 councils in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and replace them with two new unitary authorities in 2028.

Ms Rayner told the House of Commons that the review would be carried out 'at pace' and would ensure the LGR decisions in Staffordshire and other parts of England are 'robust', legal and in line with government priorities.

Elections to Stoke-on-Trent City Council and seven district councils in Staffordshire will now go ahead next May, instead of elections to the new authorities.

LGR has been a highly controversial subject in Staffordshire, with widespread opposition to the proposed 'merger' between Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle and the Staffordshire Moorlands under a North Staffordshire unitary.

But there has been cross-party support for devolution, which is expected to unlock new powers and funding for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, potentially under a new elected mayor.

Local MPs quizzed Ms Rayner on this issue following her announcement in the House of Commons.

Newcastle-under-Lyme MP Adam Jogee welcomed the LGR review, and called on the government to focus on establishing the new mayoral authorities, saying there is 'comprehensive, cross-party, cross-community support that we need for the changes of that scale'.

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell asked whether the LGR review would impact on the creation of the mayoral combined authority.

He said: "The thing that we really care about is devolution. Where the line is drawn on councils is important, but the powers that will be unleashed by devolution are what will make a real difference for my constituents."

Angela Rayner reiterated the government's intention to have strategic authorities in place everywhere in England by the end of 2028, and said there would be a 'rapid review' on LGR to ensure the right decisions are made.

Staffordshire County Council's Reform UK leader Martin Murray criticised the timing of the announcement, but he also called on the government to prioritise devolution.

He said: "This is an eleventh-hour decision from government, made with little warning and even less detail. Councils across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have worked flat out to meet government's timetable, following their rules. To pause now wastes time, drains capacity and undermines confidence.

"The timetable is broken. Government must stop wasting our time and energy, give councils straight answers and put devolution first. Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent need a strategic authority, a stronger voice and the power to make decisions locally. We will keep pressing for that."

The government has withdrawn the LGR decisions affecting Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Hampshire, while the decisions made for Staffordshire and 13 other parts of England are being reviewed.

Mr Rayner told the Commons that the government is still committed to LGR but would work 'with the people'.

Some of the affected councils, such as Essex, had launched legal challenges against LGR, while Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council sent a pre-action letter to the government last week, asking for it to provide the reasons for the decision it made for Staffordshire.

Borough council leader Jonathan Gullis believes the government should now scrap the plans for the North Staffordshire unitary.

He said: "The government now has an opportunity to correct course. My message could not be clearer: stop the abolition of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, listen to our residents and respect our Borough's right to determine its own future."