Nigel Farage has launched yet another scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer over the "utterly monstrous" decision to cancel local elections for 5.5 million Britons.
During a press conference earlier today, the Reform UK leader revealed he was "bloomin' angry" that millions of his party's supporters were being "denied their vote" on May 1.
Delivering his verdict on axing the nine local election contests on his GB News show, Farage branded the move "absolutely monstrous" and told viewers that their vote has "been cancelled".
Farage explained: "In May 2021, we had the English County Council elections. It was a Boris landslide. It was the high watermark of the Johnson Government. They even managed to win the Hartlepool parliamentary by election on the same day.
"But now those four years have gone by and these people are due to have a vote again on the May 1. And yet if you live in East Sussex or West Sussex or Essex or Thurrock or Hampshire or the Isle of Wight, or Norfolk or Suffolk or Surrey, if you're one of the 5.5 million voters in those areas, by the way, nearly all Conservative controlled, your vote has been cancelled. You will not be voting on the May 1."
Farage questioned the legitimacy of the local government reorganisation being used to justify the postponements.
"You might get a vote at a year's time, you might get a vote in two years time," he told GB News.
The Clacton MP also raised concerns about democratic representation, highlighting the crucial role of county councils in public services.
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"County councils are really rather important when it comes to elderly care, when it comes to kids with special needs, when it comes to dealing with potholes on the roads," Farage said.
Farage later reported growing public discontent, stating: "I've had mutterings on this today from people saying, well, why should we pay council tax if we can't vote for our representatives?"
"No taxation without representation, that's what some are saying," he added.
Concluding his frustrations, Farage told his GB News viewers: "People should have their vote on May 1, shouldn't they?
"And by the way, if we're going to have these reorganisations of the structure of district councils, county councils versus unitaries, that's fine. But isn't it fair that we judge who should be running that debate on May 1?"
Reform UK has launched a petition against the election cancellations, which Farage said has already gathered "nearly a quarter of a million" signatures.
The populist party has promised to field candidates in every available district, with Farage stating: "We think that Reform now is the opposition in this country to the Labour Party."
Chairman Zia Yusuf reinforced this commitment, saying: "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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During a press conference earlier today, the Reform UK leader revealed he was "bloomin' angry" that millions of his party's supporters were being "denied their vote" on May 1.
Delivering his verdict on axing the nine local election contests on his GB News show, Farage branded the move "absolutely monstrous" and told viewers that their vote has "been cancelled".
Farage explained: "In May 2021, we had the English County Council elections. It was a Boris landslide. It was the high watermark of the Johnson Government. They even managed to win the Hartlepool parliamentary by election on the same day.
"But now those four years have gone by and these people are due to have a vote again on the May 1. And yet if you live in East Sussex or West Sussex or Essex or Thurrock or Hampshire or the Isle of Wight, or Norfolk or Suffolk or Surrey, if you're one of the 5.5 million voters in those areas, by the way, nearly all Conservative controlled, your vote has been cancelled. You will not be voting on the May 1."
Farage questioned the legitimacy of the local government reorganisation being used to justify the postponements.
"You might get a vote at a year's time, you might get a vote in two years time," he told GB News.
The Clacton MP also raised concerns about democratic representation, highlighting the crucial role of county councils in public services.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- Zia Yusuf slams ‘colluding’ Labour over local elections axe: ‘Only dictators cancel elections!’
- Farage blasts ‘terrified’ Starmer after local elections AXED as Reform leader predicts tidal wave
- Reform UK posing 'genuine threat' to Labour after Starmer's PMQs jibe at Farage
"County councils are really rather important when it comes to elderly care, when it comes to kids with special needs, when it comes to dealing with potholes on the roads," Farage said.
Farage later reported growing public discontent, stating: "I've had mutterings on this today from people saying, well, why should we pay council tax if we can't vote for our representatives?"
"No taxation without representation, that's what some are saying," he added.
Concluding his frustrations, Farage told his GB News viewers: "People should have their vote on May 1, shouldn't they?
"And by the way, if we're going to have these reorganisations of the structure of district councils, county councils versus unitaries, that's fine. But isn't it fair that we judge who should be running that debate on May 1?"
Reform UK has launched a petition against the election cancellations, which Farage said has already gathered "nearly a quarter of a million" signatures.
The populist party has promised to field candidates in every available district, with Farage stating: "We think that Reform now is the opposition in this country to the Labour Party."
Chairman Zia Yusuf reinforced this commitment, saying: "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...