Hampshire’s mayoral candidate slams government proposal to cancel and delay elections
Martin Tod, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight says: “If elections are delayed or cancelled, it will be an absolute democratic disgrace.”
Local government minister Alison McGovern MP has written to the leaders of 63 councils across the country asking whether they want to postpone local elections due to be held next year.
This includes Hampshire County Council, East Hampshire District Council, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Gosport Borough Council, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, and Winchester City Council.
As leader of Winchester City Council, Martin Tod received the letter and is livid that the government is prepared to consider cancelling local elections again.
In a statement Mr Tod said: “It’s such a mess.
"Two weeks after the Mayoral elections were put back by two years, the Labour government is now asking councils if we want to delay county, district and unitary elections as well.
"In practice, this means they will be cancelled. County elections have already been delayed by one year and if they don’t go ahead in 2026, I don’t see how they ever will. County Councillors would end up serving seven-year terms without facing the voters: an absolute democratic disgrace.
"I and my Lib Dem colleagues oppose any cancellation or delay to elections anywhere in Hampshire and the Solent – and I certainly won’t be asking the government to cancel or delay elections in the Winchester City Council area. I want them to go ahead.
"Regular elections are one of the most important ways that the public can hold councils and councillors to account. If people don’t like what we’re doing, they can vote us out – and quite right too: that’s democracy.” https://www.martin4mayor.org.uk/news/article/i-oppose-any-cancellation-or-delay-to-elections-anywhere-in-hampshire-and-the-solent."