By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2024-12-25 07:42:45 | Updated at 2024-12-25 20:27:54
13 hours ago
Nigel Farage has compared Sir Keir Starmer to ex-Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe after it emerged a key council battleground has demanded the Prime Minister delay its looming local election.
The Reform UK leader, who was elected as the MP for Clacton on July 4, was left fuming after contests across Essex looked set to face the chop.
Writing on social media, Farage said: “This outrageous. Keir Starmer is behaving like Robert Mugabe.”
Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf added: “So all but confirmed: Labour and the Tories have colluded to undermine democracy and cancel local elections.
Farage compares Starmer to Robert Mugabe over election cut
PA
Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf said 'The establishment is terrified of Reform'
GB News
There is growing concern that neighbouring authorities could also face electoral disruption, including Essex and Southend-on-Sea.
Reform UK performed strongly in Essex in the 2024 General Election, claiming two seats and finishing second in another five constituencies.
The populist party returned McMurdock in South Basildon & East Thurrock, with Sophie Preston-Hall finishing runner-up in the neighbouring seat of Thurrock.
Ukip also managed to secure nine councillors in the county during the populist party’s peak period.
Cancelling a vote in Essex would also come just weeks after Reform UK frightened the Tories with a strong performance in Stock’s by-election earlier in December.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner seemingly admitted that local elections could be delayed as part of Starmer’s plan to shake-up local authorities after Local Government Minister Jim McMahon last week confirmed that the Prime Minister “may look at postponing” some local elections next year.
Communities minister Jim McMahon admitted that the Prime Minister 'may look at postponing' some local elections next year
PA
However, McMahon added: “It wouldn’t be for longer than a couple of months, a year.”
Despite facing the biggest challenge in the imminent local elections, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick criticised the move.
Jenrick, who missed out to Kemi Badenoch in the race to replace Rishi Sunak, said: “Elections should only be postponed in truly exceptional circumstances … Maybe Labour don’t want to face the electorate?”
The Tories currently hold a staggering 1,300 wards, winning many during Boris Johnson’s history-defying 2021 Local Election campaign.
Labour clings onto just 350, with the Liberal Democrats on 313 and Greens securing just 64.
Despite barely contesting recent local elections, at least 12 imminently contested wards are currently held by Reform UK.
Reform UK has secured a number of wards through post-General Election council by-elections and also through defections.
