Political opinion: Labour Government teams up with County Conservatives to take away residents’ right to vote, says Lib Dem MP John Milne
Liberal Democrat MP for Horsham, John Milne has called the Labour government’s cancellation of county elections for a second year in a row ‘undemocratic’, questioning their motivation.
In a statement in the House of Commons on Thursday, 22 January, the Labour government announced it has agreed to the request from the Conservative leadership at West Sussex County Council (WSCC) to delay elections for a second year running.
In a recent poll from JL Partners, the vast majority of residents want to have elections, with over 80% of West Sussex residents responding local elections should go ahead this year.
The Conservatives have retained control since the last WSCC elections in 2021, during the COVID pandemic, and when Boris Johnson was still Prime Minister. However, recent polling also suggests there could be a change in leadership at County, if residents had their chance to vote.
WSCC Conservatives have claimed there are capacity issues in delivering elections alongside local government reorganisation, and the creation of new unitary councils. However, it is the district and borough councils that administer and deliver county elections.
Effectively, county elections have been cancelled – never to happen again – as residents will be voting in 2027 on their new unitary councillors. Those leading WSCC now will have great influence on how local government reorganisation plays out across Sussex, without a mandate from local voters.
John Milne, Liberal Democrat MP for Horsham: “This decision to cancel West Sussex County Council elections for the second year running is not only hugely undemocratic but has been rushed.
“Many residents have written to me to object, yet the government has only listened to one side of the argument.
“Councils such as Horsham District have confirmed that they have the capacity for local elections to go ahead - and they're the ones that actually run them. So, what exactly is the motivation behind the cancellation?
“It's deeply concerning that the Labour government seems to be teaming up with the Conservatives to take away the right to vote from local residents.
“This arbitrary decision-making is completely unacceptable and shows just how shambolic the whole local government reorganisation process has become.
“The Conservative administration in County Hall is totally unrepresentative of public feeling today.
“This is a power grab pure and simple!”