Greens call for council elections to be held as planned

Reacting to news that 11 councils have asked the government to postpone elections this year, Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay MP said:

“People must be allowed to vote at the local elections in May. It would be an outrage if the first outcome of a plan the government claims will devolve power from Westminster to local areas is to see democracy cancelled. Our fragile democracy can’t afford that.

“Behind the rushed and undemocratic pleas from County Council leaders to deny their electors a vote, is the fact that many of those closer to the voters – district and borough council leaders – are opposed.

“With a five-fold increase in Green councillor numbers over the last five local elections, it does look like the two big parties are running scared of facing the voters.

“Indeed, how can the government claim an electoral mandate for these major local government changes if those most impacted see their elections postponed?

“The Green Party is urging the government to save our democracy, allow these long-planned elections to take place and get around the table to discuss how to make devolution work for people in local areas across the country.

“The imposition of large unitary authorities doesn’t help people engage with decisions being made locally. We want decisions made closest to where they have the greatest impact with significant devolution of powers and funding from Westminster. Without that, people will grow ever more cynical about politics.”