02-08-2025, 07:36 PM
The Liberal Party is dismayed to see the recent announcement that May’s local elections will be suspended in 9 areas to allow for the fast tracking of regional devolution.
These areas are East and West Sussex, Essex and Thurrock, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey and these elections will be delayed for one year until new unitary authorities have been created.
These elections will then be held in tandem with those for 6 new Combined Authority Mayoralties in Cheshire & Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Essex, Hampshire & Solent, Norfolk & Suffolk, and Sussex & Brighton.
As the local government reforms are expected to take up to 3 years, we believe the electorate in all areas affected must be able to elect councillors who represent their views on the form of reorganisation their communities aspire to.
The party remains unconvinced that these reforms of local government will provide any measurable benefits whilst removing local accountability for decisions local affecting communities.
Community politics is at the very core of our beliefs, and we support local government and in particular, localism which we see as being paramount to a flourishing society.
These areas are East and West Sussex, Essex and Thurrock, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey and these elections will be delayed for one year until new unitary authorities have been created.
These elections will then be held in tandem with those for 6 new Combined Authority Mayoralties in Cheshire & Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Essex, Hampshire & Solent, Norfolk & Suffolk, and Sussex & Brighton.
As the local government reforms are expected to take up to 3 years, we believe the electorate in all areas affected must be able to elect councillors who represent their views on the form of reorganisation their communities aspire to.
The party remains unconvinced that these reforms of local government will provide any measurable benefits whilst removing local accountability for decisions local affecting communities.
Community politics is at the very core of our beliefs, and we support local government and in particular, localism which we see as being paramount to a flourishing society.