Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has launched a blistering attack on the "completely outrageous" decision by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to postpone local elections in nine councils.
Farage declared he is "bloomin' angry" that millions of Reform UK supporters are being "denied their vote" on May 1, with areas including Essex and Norfolk.
Many of the councils are located in counties that were projected to secure victory by Reform UK at local and national elections, such as Essex, which is home to two out of five of Reform's current elected MPs.
Holding a press conference in Westminster this afternoon, Farage stated that the "elections are cancelled" jibing that he believed "only dictators cancelled elections".
Expressing his fury towards Starmer and the Labour Government, Farage fumed: "This is the connivance of a now terrified Labour Party. And boy, didn't we see that today at Prime Minister's Questions and I was being shouted down from all sides.
"It was almost like old days in the European Parliament. I was thoroughly enjoying myself."
In a pointed attack on the establishment, Farage claimed that there is "absolutely no justification" for cancelling the elections of 5.5 million people, other than the "cowardice of the existing political class".
Announcing Reform UK's petition against the cancellations, Farage told his supporters: "We've launched our petition on this, which nearly a quarter of a million people have signed already. We are blooming angry. This is wrong.
"The political weather has changed in local government over the course of the last four years, and people deserve to have a say."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Noting his particular frustration at the councils that have had their elections suspended, Farage highlighted how many of the councils chosen are areas where the party had been polling and projected to do well.
Farage said: "As far as the elections are concerned, they are canceling elections in some of the counties in which we expected to do the very, very best.
"Essex being, in a sense number one on our hit list, Norfolk being not very far behind. And I'm not knocking our ability in Surrey or West Sussex or whatever it may be, I'm not.
"But certainly in Essex and Norfolk, I think we have every right to feel seriously aggrieved."
Making a party promise alongside Chairman Zia Yusuf, Farage declared that Reform UK will "absolutely promise" to "put up a candidate in every single district that is up".
He stated: "We think that Reform now is the opposition in this country to the Labour Party. The Conservatives have self-surrendered that position by their own performance and behaviour."
Farage added: "We want everybody to have the chance, the opportunity to vote for us."
Agreeing with his party's leader, Yusuf concluded: "I am far from wincing, I am telling you as Chairman, that is what we are here to do. If we want to be the next party of Government in the United Kingdom, the least we can do is ensure that every British person going to the ballot box has a Reform candidate to vote for."
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Farage declared he is "bloomin' angry" that millions of Reform UK supporters are being "denied their vote" on May 1, with areas including Essex and Norfolk.
Many of the councils are located in counties that were projected to secure victory by Reform UK at local and national elections, such as Essex, which is home to two out of five of Reform's current elected MPs.
Holding a press conference in Westminster this afternoon, Farage stated that the "elections are cancelled" jibing that he believed "only dictators cancelled elections".
Expressing his fury towards Starmer and the Labour Government, Farage fumed: "This is the connivance of a now terrified Labour Party. And boy, didn't we see that today at Prime Minister's Questions and I was being shouted down from all sides.
"It was almost like old days in the European Parliament. I was thoroughly enjoying myself."
In a pointed attack on the establishment, Farage claimed that there is "absolutely no justification" for cancelling the elections of 5.5 million people, other than the "cowardice of the existing political class".
Announcing Reform UK's petition against the cancellations, Farage told his supporters: "We've launched our petition on this, which nearly a quarter of a million people have signed already. We are blooming angry. This is wrong.
"The political weather has changed in local government over the course of the last four years, and people deserve to have a say."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- MAPPED: The nine councils postponing local elections in 'collusion' move that could topple Reform
- Labour MPs attempt to shout down Nigel Farage at PMQs as Reform UK leaves party 'panicking'
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Noting his particular frustration at the councils that have had their elections suspended, Farage highlighted how many of the councils chosen are areas where the party had been polling and projected to do well.
Farage said: "As far as the elections are concerned, they are canceling elections in some of the counties in which we expected to do the very, very best.
"Essex being, in a sense number one on our hit list, Norfolk being not very far behind. And I'm not knocking our ability in Surrey or West Sussex or whatever it may be, I'm not.
"But certainly in Essex and Norfolk, I think we have every right to feel seriously aggrieved."
Making a party promise alongside Chairman Zia Yusuf, Farage declared that Reform UK will "absolutely promise" to "put up a candidate in every single district that is up".
He stated: "We think that Reform now is the opposition in this country to the Labour Party. The Conservatives have self-surrendered that position by their own performance and behaviour."
Farage added: "We want everybody to have the chance, the opportunity to vote for us."
Agreeing with his party's leader, Yusuf concluded: "I am far from wincing, I am telling you as Chairman, that is what we are here to do. If we want to be the next party of Government in the United Kingdom, the least we can do is ensure that every British person going to the ballot box has a Reform candidate to vote for."
Find Out More...