Former MP Craig Mackinlay has “not discounted” standing for elected mayor in Kent if the government introduces sweeping reforms to local government.

Lord Mackinlay of Richborough said he would consider going for the position in a new structure similar to those elsewhere in the country.

Recent reports suggest Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner favours radical changes to the current system where there are 21 county councils with 164 local authorities underneath.

A White Paper is anticipated shortly outlining the direction the government would like to see in future.

This could see Kent’s current system of 14 elected authorities reduced to three with an elected mayor at the top of the structure, say observers.

Lord Mackinlay, who won admiration for the bravery he showed fighting a devastating bout of sepsis last year which left him a quadruple amputee, said: “I wouldn’t discount it.

“Although I have spoken out against mayors in the past, if it’s going to happen, we would want to have a Conservative one.”

Lord Mackinlay, dubbed the ‘Bionic Lord’ because of his prosthetics, said he wants to see the government’s plans and how they might work when the White Paper is released.

He was elevated to the House of Lords earlier this year.

The council system was last reformed in 1974 with two tiers carrying out different functions.

Borough and district councils look after local services such as planning and housing while county councils handle wider ones such as social care and the roads.

Local government observers say that ministers want to simplify the structure and create a smaller number of bigger authorities but bring councils along to work out the best way to achieve the changes.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) says it wants to transfer powers to local authorities to create structures “that make sense” to communities.

While some flexibility may be possible, the government has placed emphasis on the mayoral system.

For Kent, it may result in a combined authority system with a mayor at the top of the structure, like the one in Greater Manchester with mayor Andy Burnham.

A MHCLG spokesman said: “No decisions have been taken on council reorganisation. Our priority is to focus on the transfer of power from Westminster and work with councils to create structures that make sense for their local areas and work effectively for local people.

“We will set out further details in the upcoming English devolution white paper.”

Last week, the MCHLG announced reforms to local government funding which would see the distribution of cash to a smaller number of pots.

A statement said: “Implementation of these reforms will take place alongside multi-year funding settlements, the first in 10 years come 2026-2027, allowing local authorities the certainty to plan and invest for the long-term.

“The number of funding pots will also be reduced to allow councils to have more flexibility to judge local priorities, to meet the needs of local people, and to decide how best to deliver on national priorities.”