Keir Starmer’s spokesman denies he’s behaving like a ‘dictator’ after scrapping elections
The PM is under huge pressure to apologise to voters after crucial battles next year have been delayed.
Starmer is under fire (Image: Getty)
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman has denied that Sir Keir is behaving like a “dictator” by scrapping elections next year. Key mayoral battles were set to take place in four regions, with Reform eying up yet more election wins.
However they have now been delayed until 2028 amid ongoing local government reorganisation, which already led to a number of local council elections being scrapped earlier this year. The Prime Minister’s spokesman repeatedly refused to issue an apology to voters who had been promised the new mayors as part of the Government’s devolution package. He said the change was “to make sure that any new mayors hit the ground running, supported by effective and empowered councils”.
Farage is holding an emergency press conference later today (Image: Getty)
He denied that the votes had been scrapped in order to avert potential embarrassing defeats for Labour at the hands of Reform UK.
Earlier today Reform’s chairman Dr David Bull told the Daily Express that the move to delay next year’s votes “is what dictators do”, and stopping “democracy in action”.
Nigel Farage condemned the move, branding it ‘despotic’, and is set to hold an emergency press conference at 3pm today on the news.
The Reform UK leader slammed: “For the second year running, this failing Labour government will now CANCEL elections in areas they fear that Reform will win. These are the actions of despots, not democrats.”
Mr Farage was joined in his outrage by the Liberal Democrats, with spokesman Zoe Franklin branding it a “disgrace”.
“Democracy delayed is democracy denied. We are fighting to end this blatant stitch up between Labour and the Conservatives over local elections.
“The Liberal Democrats will keep working to give millions of people their vote back in May.”
The Tories’ Sir James Cleverly MP, Shadow Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, said: “This is a scandalous attempt to subvert democracy by a Labour government whose credibility and popularity are already in tatters.
“The Conservatives firmly oppose this decision to delay the mayoral elections, especially when candidates have been selected and campaigning is well underway.
“Democracy is being denied yet again after the council elections cancelled by Labour this year. There is no credible justification for this move. The Labour Government must reverse it immediately.”
