Reform UK’s Martin Daubney has branded the potential delay of local elections a “farce”, highlighting complications beyond the proposed one-year postponement.
Speaking on GB News, Martin explained that even if candidates win in delayed elections, they would face significant limitations on their authority.
“If there is a local election in May, which now there might not be if it’s a year later, even if that candidate wins, they won’t be pulling the levers of power for three years,” he said.
Electoral expert Martin Baxter warned this could result in some councillors serving seven-year terms instead of four, creating what he termed a “democratic deficit”.
Martin Daubney hit out at the ‘farce’
GB NEWS / PA
Eleven councils have so far requested to postpone their May elections ahead of a major reorganisation of local government in England.
The requests come as local authorities face a Friday deadline to seek permission for election delays following Labour’s December announcement to abolish two-tier council areas.
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Boston and Skegness MP Richard TicePAAmong those seeking postponements are Surrey, Oxfordshire, Devon, Norfolk, Worcestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Gloucestershire and Thurrock councils.
The government has said it will only consider delays “where this would help deliver reorganisation and devolution”.
Downing Street confirmed it would “work collaboratively” with councils and provide certainty “as soon as possible” to areas requesting delays.
The potential delays have sparked significant opposition across the political spectrum.
The Liberal Democrats accused Conservative-run councils like Surrey and Devon of “running scared” and “silencing democracy” following recent Lib Dem gains in these areas.
Martin Baxter said a ‘democratic deficit’ will come into play
GB NEWS
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “This attempt to silence the voice of millions is a scandal. Democracy delayed is democracy denied.”
Some lower-tier councils have also expressed concerns, with King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council leader Alistair Beales calling the delay in Norfolk “plainly unnecessary” and warning it “could prove divisive”.
The District Councils Network has claimed people are being “deprived of their local democracy”.
Reform UK has strongly criticised the potential election delays, with party chairman Richard Tice claiming Labour is “terrified” of facing his party at the polls.
Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice accused Conservative-led councils of “bottling it and abandoning the elections”.
Conservative shadow local government secretary Kevin Hollinrake warned against councils being “bullied or blackmailed into local government restructuring”.
He added that local government should remain “local to residents and respect proud local identities”.
The elections in May would have been Labour’s first electoral test since taking power at Westminster in July last year.
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