Nigel Farage has accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of “behaving like Robert Mugabe” amid additional claims that the Government is contemplating suspending native elections scheduled for the Spring.
Reports final week prompt that the Labour authorities, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is contemplating the controversial transfer as a part of a shake-up of native authorities.
And a report in The Times yesterday prompt Essex County Council elections, in addition to these within the unitary boroughs of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock, had been “almost certain to be postponed”.
A leaked Thurrock Council report says that “as a consequence of participation in the Government Devolution Priority Programme the Leader and Chief Executive approve a letter to the Secretary of State asking to postpone local elections to be held on May 1, 2025”.
All three authorities are thought to be pure targets for Mr Farage’s Reform UK.
The GB News host, whose personal seat, Clacton, is likewise in Essex, wasted little time making his emotions plain as he shared the information on X.
He commented: “This is outrageous. Keir Starmer is behaving like Robert Mugabe.”
Mugabe, who served as President of Zimbabwe for 30 years, became notorious for putting off democratic elections. He was eventually ousted in 2017 in what was widely regarded as a coup d’etat.
The reforms, aimed at restructuring councils and enhancing devolution across England, are being spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
They involve merging or disbanding existing councils to create more streamlined and efficient local governance structures.
Local Government Minister Jim McMahon has acknowledged that elections in areas undergoing reorganisation might be deferred.
He explained that if a council is set to be restructured and will not exist in its current form for the full term following the elections, it is customary to postpone the elections and instead elect a ‘shadow body’ to oversee the transition.
Such an approach aims to prevent electing representatives to councils that are on the verge of significant structural changes.
The Government has not yet provided a definitive list of councils that will be affected by the postponements.
The situation remains fluid, with further details expected to emerge as the government continues to outline its devolution agenda and local government restructuring plans.
Stakeholders and the general public await extra complete info to know the total implications of those proposed modifications on native democracy.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson mentioned: “No decisions have been taken to postpone elections in specific areas.
“Where an area wants to work with us to deliver both reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeline, we will consider a request to postpone an election to help them manage these demands.
“We have asked areas to come forward with such requests on or before 10 January so we can respond on a timetable that provides certainty to areas as soon as possible and protects the taxpayer.”
Express.co.uk has additionally approached No.10 for remark.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1992895/nigel-farage-keir-starmer-robert-mugabe