Reform UK is poised to go to court to try to force the Government to stop dozens of councils postponing elections this May, GB News can disclose.
Reports say that more than 20 Labour councils covering four million people are expected to have elections cancelled this year after telling ministers that they do not have the “capacity” to hold a vote.
Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf told GB News on Wednesday that the party was ready to mount a judicial review in the High Court to try to force the Government to over-rule the councils’ requests.
Yusuf said: “Reform’s lawyers are coming at them with everything we’ve got.”
Zia Yusuf told GB News: ‘Reform’s lawyers are coming at them with everything we’ve got’
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Last month ministers asked 63 councils in England if they wanted to delay their elections until 2027 so they could bed in a local government shake up, prompting howls of protest from Reform.
They were given until midnight on Thursday this week to say if they wanted a delay. Ministers said they would be “minded” to agree to any postponement.
Sources have tonight told The Times newspaper that 27 local authorities covering more than 5.2million people and 3.7million registered voters will ask the minister for a delay.
Last month Local Government minister Alison McGovern said: “We have listened to councils who’ve told us of the challenges they face reorganising while preparing for resource-intensive elections for areas which may shortly be abolished.
Last month ministers asked 63 councils in England if they wanted to delay their elections until 2027
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“Several have submitted requests to postpone elections so it is therefore right we let them have their say so they can focus their time and energy on providing vital services while planning for re-organisation.”