Councillor Jessie Jagger, a leading voice in the campaign for remote participation in council meetings, has welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s announcement that councillors in England will soon be allowed to participate in debates from home. This change reverses outdated policies requiring all councillors to attend meetings in person, a restriction that was only temporarily lifted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rayner’s announcement at the Local Government Association’s annual conference introduces provisions for remote attendance and proxy voting, enabling councillors to take part even if they face challenges due to caregiving or health concerns. A public consultation on these new rules has also been launched.
Following the unanimous passing of a motion in her local council in support of remote participation, Councillor Jagger has been busy working with councillors from other parts of the country, helping them pass similar motions in their own councils. She has also been actively lobbying members of the House of Lords in anticipation of the LGA conference.
“I am thrilled to see this issue finally gaining momentum,” said Councillor Jagger, who is seven months pregnant. “I’ve been working closely with councillors across the political spectrum and directly lobbying members of the House of Lords to keep this issue front and centre. To see such a quick response from the government is encouraging, and I believe we are finally on the path to making local government more accessible and inclusive for all.”
Lord Newby, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group in the House of Lords, recently confirmed in an email that they had previously supported similar proposals in local government legislation. He explained that while the opportunity to introduce a Private Members’ Bill in the Lords would not arise until the next parliamentary session, but there may be opportunities to include remote working provisions in other upcoming legislation. “I can assure you that if we get the chance to do so, we will take it,” he stated.
Jessie featured in the Worcester News this week and was also interviewed on Tammy Gooding’s morning show on BBC Hereford and Worcester where she shared her delight at the announcement.
Jessie has also expressed her gratitude to Daisy Cooper, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, for her unwavering support throughout the campaign. “Daisy has been incredibly supportive of this campaign from the start, and I’m so pleased that we’ve had such a fast response from the government. This is a significant step forward for making local government more flexible and accessible for everyone, especially those with caregiving responsibilities or health concerns.”
To see the article from the Worcester News click HERE
To hear the BBC Interview, click HERE and scroll to 1:52:40
