Reform UK leader warns that the “democratic mandate has run out”.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (Image: GB NEWS)
Nigel Farage ripped into Labour over fresh local election delays. The Government has given 63 areas the chance to suspend ballots that were due to take place this May as part of plans to reorganise local government.
It comes after elections were also pushed back last year as part of the shake-up of town halls. But Reform leader Mr Farage hit out at Sir Keir Starmer‘s party as he accused them of seeking to undermine democracy, while he also took a swipe at the Tories.
He told GB News: “In May last year, a number of English county councils did not hold the elections they were due after the four-year term.
“We were assured at the time by the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner that it would simply be a one-year delay, all because of local government reorganisation.
“And once again in November, when questions were asked at the House, we were told, ‘No, no, the elections will go ahead’.
“And then suddenly, on December 18, Minister Alison McGovern said this in the House of Commons…’If a council voices genuine concerns, we’ll take these issues seriously and would be minded to grant a delay in those areas’.
“So basically, if you’ve served four years, or in the case of those delayed last year, five years, and you don’t fancy an election, we’ll just postpone it. No problem at all.
“Well, immediately after that on December 19, James Cleverly came out for the Conservative Party with a sense of outrage.
“Well, good to see some principle back in politics, or so I thought, until two hours later, when Conservative-controlled East and West Sussex county councils, despite having cancelled last year, announced they’re cancelled again this year.
“The democratic mandate has run out. Surely, that’s the point. Well, could up to 10 million people lose their vote?”
He added: “Well, I have to say, I think the whole thing is very, very cynical indeed. And you know, if the elections in Kent went ahead last year, why didn’t they over the water in Essex?
“I mean, there’s no logic to any of this, none whatsoever.”
Reform has argued that elections have been postponed in areas where it is likely to do well.
A Government spokesman said: “This is pointless speculation about a process that is still far from complete.
“So far, we’ve only had responses from less than half of the councils due to hold elections this year. These areas are in the best position to judge the impact of postponements on their area, and this government will listen to them.
“There is a clear precedent for postponing local elections where local Government reorganisation is in progress, as happened between 2019 and 2021.”
