Starmer abandons plans to cancel local elections

I’d guess it was a simple equation of the cost and time to fight the case versus the elections going ahead. It does seem a bit bonkers to me to run council elections in May for those areas which are merging in April 2027, only to run them again in a year’s time. I suppose though that it will give the electorate in those areas a chance to vote differently next year if they are scandal driven and end up with a dreadful crew in charge. It will be interesting to see the turnout.

I think some people are revelling in this sixandahalf. Do they care so little for this country.

Primrose53

I heard on the radio that this was Starmer’s biggest U Turn so far.

He said on Jeremy Vine Show late morning today that he would make no more U turns. By 2.30 he had U Turned and threw in the towel before it got to court on Thursday. Biggest U turn in the shortest time.

I get the sense you are enjoying this.

David49

Samsara1

Am I the only one here who voted for him and doesn't want him to go?

I want him to man up and do his job, because I think the alternative will be chaos.

Agree. What a mess.

*they are/were

Millions are wasted year in year out by the two main parties when there are/where in Government. I pay my taxes so I want to vote.

MayBee70

Well, it will cost a fortune to re do all the elections after the boundary changes but who cares that the money could have been better spent elsewhere.

Better spent on that than on people coming here illegally. 😉

Well, it will cost a fortune to re do all the elections after the boundary changes but who cares that the money could have been better spent elsewhere.

MaizieD

I know Farage is prancing around saying that Reform won in court, but they didn't. There was no judgement, the case wasn't due to be heard until Thursday.

However, my heart sank when I heard the news. I'd have been better pleased if they'd toughed it out. Can this government get anything right?

As it is, some voters will get the pleasure of voting again a year earlier than they would have done.

He is not saying he won in court! He is saying Labour caved in today ahead of going to Court on Thursday.

I heard on the radio that this was Starmer’s biggest U Turn so far.

He said on Jeremy Vine Show late morning today that he would make no more U turns. By 2.30 he had U Turned and threw in the towel before it got to court on Thursday. Biggest U turn in the shortest time.

Surely it would have been more sensible in the first place to plan the reorganisation of local govt to dovetail in with the dates of the elections, which are known years in advance.

Starmer needs to stay. We need stability. I didn't vote for Labour but here we are and a million times better than Farage and crew

On a different thread you've got a poster in not so many words insinuating that uneducated people shouldn't vote then you've got posters on this thread saying it's a waste of money for the local elections to be reinstated denying people the chance to vote in May
Have some posters forgot that it's everyone's democratic right to vote whatever the cost...money should be saved in other areas in my opinion.

SWGran

Im curious, why would anyone’s heart sink because some people are now allowed to exercise their democratic right to vote?

But whilst the lawful right for the elections to go ahead has been accepted, it is going to be difficult for the relevant las planning for the move to the new structures. We still we would have had elected reps, it’s just that their term would have been extended by a year.

fancythat

^I'd have been better pleased if they'd toughed it out.^

A fair total post.

Something, somewhere went wrong for the Labour lawyers.
So not sure they could have toughed it out.
Without still losing. And spending more money.

I don't know if it did go wrong

I'm sure that a lawyer will pop up somewhere to explain it... (Not on Gnet, of course)

SWGran

Im curious, why would anyone’s heart sink because some people are now allowed to exercise their democratic right to vote?

Exactly!!!!

Couple of labour supporters on this thread bemoaning the amount of money that's being spent on the local elections. What about the ENORMOUS amounts being spent on illegal immigrants? The local elections will cost a drop in the ocean compared to that!

I simply don't understand how Labour supporters can complain about the money being spent on reinstated local elections, but fully support this shit show of a government in failing to properly address the issue that is uppermost in the minds of most of the UK population.

Im curious, why would anyone’s heart sink because some people are now allowed to exercise their democratic right to vote?

Our area is not on the list as going ahead 🤷‍♀️

MT62

I think if Milliband won the leadership, it will be just as bad, if not worse.

Shudder!

I think if Milliband won the leadership, it will be just as bad, if not worse.

I'd have been better pleased if they'd toughed it out.

A fair total post.

Something, somewhere went wrong for the Labour lawyers.
So not sure they could have toughed it out.
Without still losing. And spending more money.

fancythat

Why didnt Labour get it's legal advice right in the first place?

You may well ask!

Tuliptree

fancythat

Why didnt Labour get it's legal advice right in the first place?

Well generally speaking, two lawyers = three opinions. And Boris and his lawyers got the proroguing wrong so it’s hardly the first time

Two "wrongs" make things worse. Not better.

And, actually I dont think anything more needs to be said.

I know Farage is prancing around saying that Reform won in court, but they didn't. There was no judgement, the case wasn't due to be heard until Thursday.

However, my heart sank when I heard the news. I'd have been better pleased if they'd toughed it out. Can this government get anything right?

As it is, some voters will get the pleasure of voting again a year earlier than they would have done.