𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Labour Party chairman has repeatedly refused to rule out delaying the next general election after scrapping council elections next year. Anna Turley MP left Sky News host Trevor Phillips stunned as she was given repeated opportunities to rule out the idea.

Mr Phillips pointed to this week’s move to scrap up to 63 council elections next year, on top of delaying votes on new mayors. Labour has blamed the delays on reorganisations of local government, prompting the interviewer to ask whether Sir Keir Starmer may find an excuse to avoid going to the polls in 2029. He asked: “If the government were to find that there was some complex reorganisation going on, for example somebody might have pledged to get rid of the House of Lords and they might decide to do that in 2028, might that be a reason to put off a general election in 2028/29?”

Ms Turley failed to answer the question, insisting there are still a large number of elections taking place next year including in Scotland, Wales and London.

She insisted: “The reality is we’re moving to unitary councils, there’s a huge restructuring of local government and it’s really difficult for them to manage that alongside running elections as well. 

“We’ve got a huge programme of elections this May, but the reality is while we’re undertaking the biggest restructuring in a generation it’s really important we give councils the capacity to do this so they don’t keel over.”

Mr Phillips offered to give Ms Turley a second opportunity to rule out delaying the next general election, on behalf of viewers “currently shouting at their television”.

He asked again: “Even if things are difficult and there’s a reorganisation in Westminster – as I say you’ve promised to get rid of the House of Lords – there’s going to be no delay on a general election?”

Ms Turley once again refused to answer his simple question, instead talking about Labour’s pledge to abolish hereditary peers.