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Frank McKenna has accused some people involved in Lancashire’s local-government reform debate of trying to “protect their own empire.” The Downtown in Business chief executive made the remark as an opinion on the Northern Spin podcast; the available reporting does not establish the motives of the people he criticised. Meanwhile, the proposed reorganisation—replacing 15 councils with four unitary authorities—has been paused during a Government review, not confirmed as cancelled.
What did Frank McKenna mean by “protect their own empire”?
McKenna, chief executive and group chairman of Downtown in Business, criticised what he called parochialism in Lancashire’s council reorganisation debate. Speaking on the Northern Spin podcast, he said: “I think as far as Lancashire is concerned the parochialism that exists there is beyond ridiculous.”
He argued that discussion was concentrating on the names of proposed unitary authorities instead of what they might deliver for residents. He said: “We have people who are more concerned about what their unitary authorities are going to be called rather than what the new authorities are going to be able to deliver for the people of the county.”
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11McKenna then added: “I think if you go beyond that you have people who, in my opinion, are trying to protect their own empire.” The phrase is his allegation about the motivations of some people in the debate. BusinessCloud’s report does not independently verify that allegation or identify evidence establishing those motives. BusinessCloud reported his comments on 1 October 2026.
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What is proposed for Lancashire’s councils?
The proposal reported by BusinessCloud would replace Lancashire’s 15 existing councils with four unitary authorities. That describes the proposed structure; the sources do not establish its effects on services, costs, representation or accountability.
Has the reorganisation been cancelled?
No cancellation has been confirmed. Lancashire County Council said on 1 October 2026 that the Government had paused implementation while conducting a rapid review. The council also said it had not been told that the July decision was withdrawn or that the review would produce a fresh decision. The accurate status is therefore “paused during a review,” rather than “cancelled.”
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County Council Leader Councillor Stephen Atkinson said: “I have consistently pressed for any decision about the future shape of local government to be supported by robust evidence and a transparent process.” The council’s statement describes the pause as a Government action, not a final decision on the proposal. Read Lancashire County Council’s statement.
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Atkinson said the Cabinet had authorised precautionary steps to protect the council’s position. If the council did not receive satisfactory confirmation from the Government within the limited time available, those steps could include issuing a protective claim and asking a court to pause proceedings while the review took place.
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The council stressed that this was precautionary and that it had not committed to pursuing legal action. It described proceedings as a last resort, after further correspondence and appropriate legal advice. This is a possible step, not a report that a claim has been filed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What has been reported about a Lancashire mayor?
BusinessCloud reports that a Lancashire mayoral election is not due until 2028, and that devolution minister Jim McMahon told the Lancashire Combined County Authority that getting a mayor was a priority for him and Andy Burnham. These are details reported by BusinessCloud; the County Council’s statement on reorganisation does not independently confirm the mayoral timetable.
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- Author: Bungay Stanier, Michael.
- Publisher: Page Two
- Pages: 244
- Publication Date: 2016-02-29
- Edition: 1
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