Cancelling Elections: A Democratic Disgrace the Conservatives Must Own
The Tories and the Labour Party are running as fast as possible away from the electorate
In a move that should alarm anyone who believes in democracy, ministers are preparing to ask more than 60 councilswhether they want to suspend local elections until 2027, using local government reorganisation as the excuse. Most are expected to accept.
This is not administrative tidying-up. It is an attack on democracy — and the Conservative Party is up to its neck in it.
Turkeys Don’t Vote for Christmas — But Councils Are Cancelling Elections
Let’s be honest about what is happening.
In a shameless act of political self-preservation, Tory-controlled councils are lining up to collude with Labour Party to cancel elections they are terrified of losing. Faced with growing public anger and the rise of Reform UK, they would rather abolish the ballot box than face the voters.
“Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas” has never been more apt.
Councillors who know they are on borrowed time are now voting to extend their own mandates without consent. That is not democracy. It is incumbency protection dressed up as reform.
This Is What Banana Republics Do
Only a banana republic cancels elections because the ruling parties fear the result.
Yet that is exactly what Britain is drifting towards under Keir Starmer: elections postponed, accountability suspended, and power quietly consolidated. Labour may be leading this agenda, but they are not acting alone.
The real scandal is that the Conservatives — supposedly the party of democracy and localism — are going along with it.
The Conservatives Are Running Away From the Voters
After 14 years in government, the Conservatives have lost the trust of the country. They know it. Their councillors know it. And now, rather than face the consequences, they are choosing to run away from elections.
This is the same party that:
talks endlessly about freedom and democracy
claims to stand up for local accountability
and lectures others about constitutional norms
Yet when faced with the prospect of losing council seats, they are suddenly relaxed about suspending democracy altogether.
It is hard to imagine a more complete betrayal of Conservative values — if any still remain.
Kemi Badenoch Must Act — Or Own This
This moment now rests squarely with Kemi Badenoch.
If she believes in democracy, she must instruct Conservative council leaders to allow elections to go ahead as scheduled. No excuses. No procedural games. No hiding behind “reorganisation”.
If she fails to do so, then the conclusion is unavoidable: the Conservative Party no longer believes in elections when it fears the outcome.
History is unforgiving to parties that abandon democracy to save themselves.
Reform UK Will Not Stay Silent
Reform UK will oppose these cancellations at every level.
Local government reorganisation does not require the suspension of elections. There is no emergency. There is no democratic mandate. And there is no justification for denying voters their say.
If councillors want new structures, they should seek approval from the public — not cancel the public.
Democracy Is Not Optional
Elections are not a privilege granted by ministers. They are a right.
Any party that colludes in cancelling them — whether Labour or Conservative — forfeits its claim to govern in the name of the people.
If Britain starts cancelling elections because politicians are scared, then something has gone badly wrong. And if the Conservatives continue down this path, voters will remember exactly who ran away when democracy mattered most.