"Sir Keir Starmer has been warned by his former local government minister that he risks squandering trust in Labour after a huge row broke out over proposals to postpone some mayoral elections. Jim McMahon, who was sacked by Sir Keir in the September reshuffle, hit out at the move to push four elections for new mayoralties in Greater Essex, Hampshire and Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton back two years to 2028."
"As rival political parties lined up to criticise Labour, he told MPs: We need to be better than this. Labour has been accused of cancelling democracy amid claims the move is a bid to see off a threat to Sir Keir's leadership. No 10 was also forced to deny that the prime minister was acting like a dictator over the decision when asked about the row by political journalists."
Labour proposed postponing four mayoral elections until 2028, citing the need for more time to complete local government reorganisation. The proposal prompted a major row and a warning from Jim McMahon that the move risks squandering public trust in Labour. Opposing parties accused Labour of cancelling democracy and suggested the delay could be aimed at weakening a perceived leadership threat. No 10 denied that the prime minister was acting like a dictator when questioned. The delayed contests will be conducted under a more proportional electoral system, which is expected to make it harder for Reform UK to win.
Read at www.independent.co.uk
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