Local elections: ‘Dictator’ Keir Starmer faces Tory bid to strip election-blocking powers after 4.5 MILLION voters denied a say
The Conservatives are set to challenge Sir Keir Starmer over his decision to cancel elections and strip 4.5 million of their right to vote in May.The amendment was initially brought forward in the House of Lords by the Liberal Democrats. It would see MPs given the power to block any future bids to block elections.Sir Keir used a clause in the 2000 Local Government Act, which allows ministers to delay local elections under exceptional circumstances, to cancel 29 elections that were due to take place on May 7.The Prime Minister was branded a "dictator" for his move, while Lib Dem leader Ed Davey wrote to Kemi Badenoch and asked her to team up and support their amendment.In a letter to the Tory leader, Sir Ed said: "Liberal Democrats oppose the cancellation of local elections, which has left voters unable to exercise their democratic right to vote."Voters rightly deserve the chance to decide who runs the vital local services that they rely on, whether it’s adult social care or special educational needs."The government of the day must never be allowed the power to simply delay elections and deny voters their right without the proper scrutiny of Parliament."He added: "Failing to back this amendment would be failing millions of voters."The Conservatives are set to challenge Sir Keir Starmer on his decision to cancel elections and strip 4.5million of their right to vote in May. | GETTYThe Tories have signalled their support for the amendment that, if passed, would not prevent the current delays to elections but would require an Act of Parliament in order to delay any further.Speaking to GB News, Mrs Badenoch said Labour is "trying to bully" councils into not holding elections."I have said very clearly that these elections should go ahead and what I’ve seen is Labour trying to bully councils into not holding elections. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s played a part in it," she told the People's Channel.Kemi Badenoch accused Labour trying to 'bully' local councils into cancelling elections | GB NEWS"I'm somebody who believes that the electorate should get a chance to have their say, and what is interesting is how some people are quite happy to delay elections if they think they're going to lose, and then complain that elections are being delayed if they think they're going to win."She argued: "The mess that they're making with our local Government system is something that people aren't really paying attention to. That's what I'm most worried about."A senior Conservative source has stated that the party is holding "active and ongoing" discussions and would "100 per cent support" the best option to restore the vote to the millions who have lost it.Despite this, 1.4 million people in Tory-run councils will be stripped of their right to vote come May.The shires of Norfolk and Suffolk secretly lobbied the Government to postpone their vote, despite publicly criticising attempts to cancel the elections, while Essex joined them in cancelling. Steve Reed, the Local Government Secretary, also said he had received representations from one council as late as Thursday morning, but refused to name the authority.
