SIR Keir Starmer is facing a furious backlash after four of next year’s mayoral elections were cancelled.
Voting in new authorities Greater Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent will now go ahead in 2028 instead of next May, as revealed by The Sun yesterday.
Nigel Farage claimed Reform was on track to win all four races, citing polling with his party in the lead.
Farage fumed that Labour was acting like “despots not democrats”.
Holding an emergency press conference, he blasted: “It just shows the total and utter disdain this country has for liberty, democracy and freedom.”
Some Labour MPs were also critical, including former Local Government Minister Jim McMahon.
He said the Government had a “moral and legal obligation to honour its side of the bargain”.
Sir Keir denied meddling in the democratic process.
He insisted the extra time is needed to allow new councils to get up and running.
He said: “There are various arrangements being put in place to ensure all the elections can take place at the right time.”
