A Reform UK councillor in Kent has slammed his local authority’s plan to axe local elections in May, accusing the Tory-led council and Labour Government of “running scared” amid the success of the populist party.
Thomas Mallon, who received 25 per cent of the vote in Swanscombe and Greenhithe in a by-election last November, has said he would “happily” run again in May as elections are a “democratic process”.
However, Kent County Council (KCC) seems to have other plans, after it asked on Thursday to delay this year’s elections to allow for a new mayor to be appointed instead.
The local authority also voted to ask the Government to accept them onto the fast track devolution programme, which would see the scrapping of local councils.
Mallon said: ‘They would rather see the Conservatives in power than see Reform take control of Kent’
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On Thursday, KCC asked to delay this year’s elections to allow for a new mayor to be appointed instead
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A total of 17 councils have indicated their interest in a devolution deal, whilst 12 counties are seeking permission to postpone voting this year. The Government will have until mid-February to choose 10 that will have their elections scrapped.
Speaking to GB News at Reform UK’s South East England conference on Friday, Mallon said: “Kent County Council are running scared because they know there’s going to be about 20 or 30 other reform candidates winning seats all over Kent.
“And that’s what they don’t want. That’s what’s happening behind the scenes.”
Last month, Local Government Minister Jim McMahon confirmed Labour “may look at postponing” some of the polls scheduled for May 1.
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Rayner met with regional mayors after her announcement last month
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The move comes after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner launched a White Paper in December, which has been dubbed the “Devolution Revolution”.
The proposals aim to streamline services by merging smaller district councils with larger county councils.
Ministers say the changes will enable the creation of more powerful local mayors with expanded powers over planning and infrastructure.
Mallon told the People’s Channel that the Labour Government is “doing everything they can” to stop Reform UK from taking control of counties across the UK.
He said that just two weeks after his win in November, the Government issued the “Devolution Revolution Papers”, which he found telling of their fear.
Mallon won his position during a by-election in November
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“They told Kent you have to go unitary because they could see what was coming,” he said.
“They would rather see the Conservatives in power than see Reform take control of Kent. They are doing everything they can. They’re just playing politics.”
Other councils expected to demand a postponement include Essex, Thurrock, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, Hampshire, East Sussex, West Sussex, Devon, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire.
Just five councils are expected to opt against cancelling polls – Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire.
Mallon said: “You’ve got a lot of places that would actually maybe be Tory blue that might turn turquoise, and the rug has been pulled out from under them.”
