Keir Starmer defends newest U-turn with ‘domestically led’ declare after widespread anger
Sir Keir Starmer defended the Government’s U-turn on postponed votes in 30 English councils, saying authorities across parties had requested delays before legal advice forced reinstatement
The rough ride continues(Image: Matthew Horwood, Getty Images)
Keir Starmer defended the Government’s latest U-turn – this time on plans to postpone numerous May council elections, stating that the decision had been “locally led” and was made following additional legal counsel.
The voting in 30 English councils had been delayed to assist town halls with a significant reorganisation of local government. However, after receiving advice from lawyers in response to a legal challenge by Reform UK, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) reinstated the elections on Monday.
When questioned about local authorities now being left scrambling to organise polls at short notice due to his Government’s change of heart during a visit to South Wales, the Prime Minister seemed to imply that the initial decisions to postpone the votes were the responsibility of the local authorities.
Sir Keir stated: “Well, I think it’s important to remind ourselves that the decision to cancel was a locally led decision, in the sense that each authority could decide.
“And, yes, Labour authorities came forward to say, ‘please delay’, but so did Tory authorities, so did Lib Dem authorities.
“In relation to the position, we took further legal advice and, as you would expect as a Government, having got further legal advice, we followed that legal advice.”
During his visit to Wales, he also criticised his Conservative predecessors for making and then unmaking decisions as he spoke in South Wales about the Government’s investment to transform Welsh railways.
He said: “Here’s a comprehensive plan for the whole of Wales that is going to be delivered. And in the past, under the last government … we had announcements that were made, and then unmade.
“We had the electrification from Cardiff to Swansea, good idea by the last government, and then they cancelled it. This is about delivering differently, delivering on a comprehensive package.”
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