𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Labour government actually did something good. Shocking, I know. They recognised the economic, regional growth and increased local accountability that the Conservatives’ expansion of the Mayors delivered. Mayors like Ben Houchen in Teesside, Andy Street in the West Midlands, and yes, Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester.

So Labour announced bold plans to bring Mayors to almost every region in England. They sent councils off to work tirelessly to get areas like Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, which I represent, ready for this bold, exciting opportunity for our region. But just like that, they pulled the rug out from under them. They have once again led everybody up the hill, but then jumped right off a cliff, delaying the scheduled 2026 Mayoral elections.

Labour talks about empowering communities, but when it goes against their own political interests, they bottle it.

This is frankly a disgrace. An insult to political accountability, and epitomises the rot at the core of Starmer’s government.

Of course this attack on democracy was not announced to Parliament first as is expected. No this being a Labour government it was revealed via a leak. Is there any other way that this government likes to operate?

The government also failed across the board to coordinate with local councils or let candidates from across the political spectrum know about the delays. This is a betrayal of all those who have worked tirelessly to prepare English regions for Mayors.

This leak in particular reeks of incompetence. Their excuse for the delays is disgraceful, trying to shift the blame to councils for not reorganising the councils in time for the election. Labour ministers set the deadline. They failed to get this in place. They shouldn’t blame hard-working councils and officials. They are the ones who have let down the British people.

But no one is drinking Labour’s cool-aid this time. We know it isn’t the council’s fault. They are just afraid to fight the Conservatives in an election. They see the momentum we have, see Kemi tearing the PM apart at PMQs, and instead of stepping up to the plate, they run away, tail-tucked.

This is once again the Labour Party putting politics over people. Asking people to give up more to stay in power.

They did the same in the budget, raising taxes so they could increase the benefits bill by £16 billion. A move that will send the welfare bill to an eye-watering £406billion in five years’ time, all so a weak Starmer could appease their rebelling MPs.

The only difference is that this time they are sacrificing people’s democratic right to save them the embarrassment at the polls next year.

If you fail in government, you should accept responsibility. It is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy. If you don’t deliver, you must accept the consequences and face the wrath of the electorate.

Nobody voted for Labour to unleash constitutional chaos on our nation. Whether it is sidestepping Parliament to leak to the media, delaying elections again, or scrapping jury trials. They cannot keep destroying the institutions and conventions that make this country great.

England should feel betrayed. Finding out via leaks is one thing, but this delay – purely because Labour are scared of the fight – will put a straight jacket around regional growth.

I was ready to stand up for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. As someone who has been a local council leader and Police and Crimes Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since 2021, I know what my region needs.

As Mayor, I could have continued to crack down on crime, secure investment and bring good-quality well paid jobs to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and transform our transport infrastructure.

But Labour have denied the people of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and the rest of England, their right to vote, silencing the voices of millions of people, and are holding back economic growth which they laughably say is their number one priority.

Keir Starmer is sacrificing people’s democratic right to save his own skin. Labour should be ashamed.