Farage has slammed Labour’s latest election cancellation in the Commons. The policy is being defended by MHCLG minister Miatta Fahnbulleh who claims local authorities need more time to organise themselves. Farage said:
“I could scarcely believe it last year when the county council elections in Essex and elsewhere were postponed for a year. So clearly there is no reason at all why they can’t go ahead in 2026. Although I know the local Conservative administration is fiercely opposed to that. But the whole local government reorganisation is a dog’s dinner. The public don’t understand what’s going on. You’re asking people in Clacton to vote in local elections year after year after year. You’re telling them we’re going to get rid of a district council that they know and understand and respect and replace it with a pretty amorphous unitary authority.”
Farage was stopped from speaking any longer by Deputy Speaker Caroline Nokes, who ticked him off for saying ‘you’. Fahnbulleh hit back:
“We are committed to moving forward with local elections, council elections next year… I know the idea of strong effective institutions delivering for their country is something that is a hundred miles away from their understanding of what the point of government is… We are absolutely committed to strong institutions and we’re committed to working with all councils to make sure they are delivering for their people.”
As Guido reported previously Labour’s internal strategy is for Reform to gain no more than one mayor each year in order to prevent the party obtaining a block power base. Won’t work…
