The Worcester Liberal Democrats have today reacted with delight to news that the Worcestershire County Council local elections will be going ahead as scheduled on May 1st 2025.
This was despite the Council leaders efforts to postpone the election after the Government announced plans to change the structures of Councils across the UK in a white paper. The Conservative leaders applied to have the scheduled May elections postponed, despite not consulting fellow councillors or the public about such a move.
Many saw the attempts by the council leaders as nothing more than an attempt to hold on to their positions after the Conservatives disastrous results in the General Election in 2024.
However despite this it was announced earlier today (5th Feb) that those efforts had failed as Deputy PM Angela Rayner announced that Worcestershire had not been included in a shortlist of six selected for fast-track devolution.
Reacting to the news, the Worcester Liberal Democrats have thanked residents who made their voices heard in calling for the elections to go ahead and to those who supported the party’s petition.
Councillor Mel Allcott, County Councillor for Claines commented “The Lib Dems are extremely pleased that this attempt by the Councils leaders to postpone the democratic rights of the voters in Worcestershire has failed.
‘It was inconceivable that the public could not have a say in whether these elections were postponed or not. No elected officials should ever try to speak for their constituents without receiving the mandate to do so first. Its the bedrock of Democracy and we heard from so many people who were outraged that their democratic rights were being ignored after we highlighted this attempt with our petition.
Fortunately their attempt has not succeeded as the government has seen through their attempt, and we are glad that the voters in Worcestershire will get their say on May 1st.’
City Councillor Sarah Murray, who is standing in Warndon Parish in the County elections added “I’m delighted that attempts to halt the elections have failed.
‘Its been one mess after another with the Conservatives in the council, not just their attempts to delay the election without a consultation, but also with their inter party civil wars and Councillor Bayliss’ crude comments over the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves.
We are extremely happy that residents will have the opportunity in May to hold them to account.’
