The Conservative Party has called on the Government to disclose correspondence amid claims that local authorities were pressured into cancelling local elections. Sir James Cleverly, the shadow communities secretary, alleged that councils were subjected to intense pressure to argue that holding elections ahead of local government reorganisation would be a misuse of public resources.
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It has been claimed that some councils were warned of potential funding consequences if they failed to comply. Elections had initially been paused for 30 councils that requested delays, a decision taken by the Local Government and Communities Secretary, Steve Reed, before it was reversed last week. Following the change, elections are now due to proceed in May, with Labour expected to face significant losses.
Speaking during a Commons debate, Sir James said council leaders had described being repeatedly urged to restate concerns about capacity and discouraged from criticising ministerial decisions. He argued that councils were left with the impression that future funding, devolution and reorganisation depended on their cooperation, and called for all communications between the department and local authorities to be made public.
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Further allegations have emerged from within Labour, including claims aired at a meeting of the party’s national executive committee that council leaders were “leant on” behind the scenes. Concerns have also been raised publicly by senior Conservative figures in local government, who argue that the handling of the issue risks undermining democratic accountability at a local level.
