Labour’s decision to postpone local elections to 2027 has been dismantled by Theo Usherwood, as he made clear the Government “can’t get away” from holding elections.
Speaking to GB News, the political commentator said the move will prove “exceptionally damaging”, as Britons will see it as “denying democracy”.
The Government has confirmed ministers have written to as many as 63 local authorities offering them the opportunity to delay next year’s elections to 2027.
Plans to delay the elections will mean millions of Britons will wait even longer to have their say at the ballot box.
Discussing the delays, Mr Usherwood told GB News: “It’s worth remembering, these were elections were meant to take place earlier this year, then they got delayed till next May. And now the Government wants to push back until May 2027 as part of this Government reorganisation.
“This doesn’t affect what’s happening in Scotland, it doesn’t affect what’s happening in Wales, and it won’t affect what’s happening in many metropolitan councils, where Labour is facing a significant squeeze on the left from parties, or particularly the Green Party under Zach Polansky.”
Criticising Labour, he added: “From looking at this story, it’s very difficult to see the wisdom of pushing back again simply because you’re worried about what’s going to happen in the shires.”
Predicting Conservative councils will also push for a delay in the elections, Mr Usherwood said: “When these applications, when councils are given the opportunity to push back again, it’ll be many Tory councils that actually turn around and say ‘can we have another extension as well, please?'”
Theo Usherwood has dismantled Labour’s ‘extremely damaging’ decision to postpone local elections to 2027
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PA / GB NEWS
Pressed on why he believes the Tories will back the delay, he responded: “I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but you have to look at why they would take that opportunity, given the rise of Reform and Nigel Farage and the success that they had at the last local elections.
“They won ten councils, taking control of ten councils, that’s exactly what they’re worried about.”
Noting Reform leader Nigel Farage’s opposition to the delay, Mr Usherwood said he has used the decision by Labour “very effectively” to appeal to more voters.
He explained: “I do think when you go out into the country and you speak to people, one of the things that they like is Nigel Farage has used this very effectively.
Nigel Farage branded Labour a ‘banana republic’ over the delays | PA
“I don’t carry a candle for him, but he’s used this very effectively to say that actually, you’re denying democracy, you’re denying people their right to have a say in who runs their local services, and I think that’s exceptionally damaging for the Government.”
Taking aim at Labour over the delays, the political commentator made clear the Government “cannot get away” from holding elections simply by postponing them.
He stated: “I don’t think it helps Labour – there’s going to have to be local elections, you can’t get away from the fact that these elections are going to have to happen.
“And I think it just simply creates a sort of a boil that has to be lanced sometime in the future. And I don’t think it helps either the Labour Party or the Conservative Party to be seen or portrayed by Nigel Farage’s party as denying democracy.”
Mr Usherwood told GB News that there ‘has to be local elections’ no matter if they are delayed
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GB NEWS
Asked by host Ellie Costello what the move could mean for Sir Keir Starmer amid reports he “could be facing a leadership challenge after the local elections in May”, Mr Usherwood admitted there is a “real danger” for Labour and the Tories.
He said: “I think if you look at the really crunch votes that are going to happen in May, particularly in the Senedd and in Holyrood, as well as in those metropolitan councils where you’re going to have Labour facing significant votes on issues like the Government’s stance towards towards Gaza and the headway that the Greens have made under the new leadership of Zach Polanski.
“I think that challenge is going to happen anyway. I think there’s a real danger for Labour and the Conservatives, indeed Liberal Democrats too, that after May’s elections, the only truly federal party in this country is going to be Reform UK.
“The party that could be represented and has any representation or any foothold outside of England. And I think that’s really what the Prime Minister, and there’s no doubt to say that he’s not worried about it, that’s where the focus is going to be.”