"Sir Keir Starmer has abandoned plans to postpone elections across 30 councils this May after being warned it would be illegal, in yet another humiliating U-turn for the government. Local government secretary Steve Reed had previously approved proposals to delay the polls for more than 4.5 million people to help deliver a major reorganisation of local authorities. But on Monday, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) spokesperson said it was abandoning the plan in the face of new legal advice a climbdown that has been claimed as a victory for Reform UK, which had launched legal action against the government to challenge the proposed delay."
"In a further humiliation for the government, ministers have agreed to pay Reform's legal costs relating to the party's challenge. In a letter to council leaders, housing secretary Steve Reed suggested the government could offer practical support to local authorities after reversing the decision to postpone elections, as well as making 62 million"
Plans to postpone local elections across 30 councils this May were abandoned after new legal advice indicated the delay would be unlawful. Local government secretary Steve Reed had approved proposals to delay polls affecting more than 4.5 million voters to enable a major reorganisation of local authorities. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reversed the decision following legal challenge by Reform UK, which claimed victory. Ministers have agreed to meet Reform UK’s legal costs. Housing secretary Steve Reed indicated the government could provide practical support to affected councils and make available 62 million.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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