Isn’t it interesting how a different perspective can change our entire outlook – for example by asking: is Labour changing local government to avoid election embarrassment?
The government announced just after midnight on Monday (December 16, 2024) that it was planning major changes to local government in England, with unitary authorities replacing separated district and county councils where there was demand – and a mayor for every region.
But then we discovered that, if it were to happen, then local elections in affected council areas would not take place in May 2025 – and that put a completely different complexion on the story.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Answering questions in the Commons debate that day on the government’s ‘English Devolution’ White Paper, local government minister Jim McMahon said: “If those councils that come to the Government with a request for reorganisation meet the test and have a credible programme in place, the elections will likely not take place until the year after, because they will be postponed to elect the shadow authority that would replace the county and the districts.”
He added: “There will not be a mass cancelling of elections for the sake of it.”
That is hardly reassuring, even after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner had already provided a reason – because the basis on which the change may be made seems highly subjective.
Requests for reorganisation may have to “meet the test” – but what test? And who decides whether they have “a credible programme” in place?
It all seems very vague to This Writer – and also to Steve Walker, over on Skwawkbox, who said many may consider that the plan “will make many people subject to authorities physically and experientially distant from them”.
He said:
Local elections can easily be held in plenty of wards and districts that would not exist by the time the full term was served, to ensure voters are not denied their say.
But Keir Starmer’s and his party’s polling is so catastrophic – and recent local election results have seen such drastic collapses – that Starmer is said to be terrified of an electoral thrashing in May that would end his already-shredded credibility completely.
Using the devolution paper as cover for a widespread cancellation of local elections is an opportunity to hide from voters and accountability that he is grasping with both shaky hands.
It certainly seems possible that instead of giving UK citizens more control over democratic processes, Starmer is actually doing the opposite – and that would harm us all.
Source: Frit Starmer cancels 2025 local elections to avoid trouncing – SKWAWKBOX
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Is Labour changing local government to avoid election embarrassment?
Isn’t it interesting how a different perspective can change our entire outlook – for example by asking: is Labour changing local government to avoid election embarrassment?
The government announced just after midnight on Monday (December 16, 2024) that it was planning major changes to local government in England, with unitary authorities replacing separated district and county councils where there was demand – and a mayor for every region.
But then we discovered that, if it were to happen, then local elections in affected council areas would not take place in May 2025 – and that put a completely different complexion on the story.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
Answering questions in the Commons debate that day on the government’s ‘English Devolution’ White Paper, local government minister Jim McMahon said: “If those councils that come to the Government with a request for reorganisation meet the test and have a credible programme in place, the elections will likely not take place until the year after, because they will be postponed to elect the shadow authority that would replace the county and the districts.”
He added: “There will not be a mass cancelling of elections for the sake of it.”
That is hardly reassuring, even after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner had already provided a reason – because the basis on which the change may be made seems highly subjective.
Requests for reorganisation may have to “meet the test” – but what test? And who decides whether they have “a credible programme” in place?
It all seems very vague to This Writer – and also to Steve Walker, over on Skwawkbox, who said many may consider that the plan “will make many people subject to authorities physically and experientially distant from them”.
He said:
It certainly seems possible that instead of giving UK citizens more control over democratic processes, Starmer is actually doing the opposite – and that would harm us all.
Source: Frit Starmer cancels 2025 local elections to avoid trouncing – SKWAWKBOX
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
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