“Farage Accused Starmer Plans to Cancel Half of May Elections to Undermine Reform UK’s Progress”
Nigel Farage has strongly criticized Sir Keir Starmer, claiming he is planning to cancel nearly half of this year’s local elections to prevent Reform UK from gaining more support. According to Farage, Conservative councils are also taking advantage of the situation for their own benefit.
Local elections are currently set for May 1, where people across England are expected to vote for their local councils. However, rumors suggest that some elections might not take place due to a plan to restructure local councils. Reports indicate that Labour ministers believe the current two-tier system, where smaller district councils report to larger regional authorities, is outdated and needs reform.
Under the proposed changes, smaller councils could be replaced by larger, single-unit councils, making the system simpler. There is also talk of introducing more regional mayors to oversee these new structures.
Farage, speaking on TalkTV, claimed this is being used as an excuse to stop elections in areas where Reform UK is gaining traction. He said: “Labour wants to change how local councils work, and Conservative councils are jumping on this to push for election suspensions. Unsurprisingly, these suspensions are happening in places where Reform UK is becoming stronger.”
Farage didn’t hold back, adding: “This is taking away people’s right to vote. Canceling elections is something you’d expect from dictators, not a democracy.”
Despite the uncertainty, Reform UK remains optimistic about its future. A spokesperson for the party told Express.co.uk last December: “The 2025 local elections are a huge opportunity for us, assuming they’re not canceled! We’re ready to strengthen our position as a national party. Our focus is on challenging the Tories in the south and Labour in the north.”
The spokesperson went on to explain that the party has already set up hundreds of local branches across the UK. “We’re giving our branches the tools and resources they need to run strong campaigns and win elections across the country,” they said.
Farage has warned that if elections are canceled, it would be a major blow to democracy. Meanwhile, Labour and Conservative officials have not responded directly to the claims, leaving voters uncertain about what will happen come May.
This situation has raised serious concerns about whether democracy is being undermined for political gain and how these changes might shape the future of local government in England. For now, voters are left waiting to see if they’ll have the chance to cast their ballots this spring.
