Today the government is set to announce in the Commons those councils whose elections will be delayed. Thanks to Labour’s long-held plans to merge district councils and county councils into unitary authorities…
Exactly which and what number of councils will have their elections delayed is of extreme interest to Reform, which has been campaigning against the changes on the grounds that frightened Tory councils will choose to postpone electoral defeat and protect their councillors’ salaries for the time being. Delayed local elections could severely hamper Reform’s current narrative, which is based on electoral momentum…
Reform’s line is that “Labour and the Tories are so terrified of Reform’s rise that they are colluding to rob the British people of their democratic rights.” 21 county councils were due for elections in May. Of those 16 (along with two other councils) have asked for permission to delay them for major restructuring – a practice last seen in 2021. Half are expected to be successful. Expect Farage to kick up a fuss today…
UPDATE: Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Thurrock, Surrey, East and West Sussex, Hampshire and Isle of Wight have their local elections cancelled.
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”