'Orwellian double-talk!' Councillor blasts Labour for plans to merge councils - 'Taking democracy from the people'

This morning, local government minister Jim McMahon said some local elections next year may not go ahead as local authorities could be closed or merged - prompting fury from Reform, which has seen success across a range of council votes, even from a "standing start".

Then, LBC revealed that Kent, Essex, Lancashire, Hertfordshire and Sussex were areas in which Labour is considering calling off local elections as part of Angela Rayner's "devolution" drive.

Reform UK local councillor Thomas Mallon told GB News: "What we've got right at this moment in time is Orwellian double-talk. That's what's coming out of the Labour Party right now.

"I was elected democratically by the local people of Grove, Greenhithe and Swanscombe, and that democratic mandate gives me permission to do what they're asking.

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"This proposal by the Labour Party would take democracy out of the hands of the local people, and it would put it in the hands of bureaucrats. It would put it in the hands of people that don't care or have any interest in local issues.

"Looking at some of these proposals, the wider development powers.

"This would give Labour permission to, pardon the pun, bulldoze planning permissions through to build more housing estates in the already over populated area of Dartford and Kent.

"To me that's just right and roughshod over democracy. And it's taking democracy away from the people, and that's the problem we've got at the moment."

The proposals aim to streamline services by merging smaller district councils with larger county councils.

Ministers say the changes will enable the creation of more powerful local mayors with expanded powers over planning and infrastructure.

The move has sparked fierce criticism from local representatives, with concerns about the creation of "mega councils" undermining community-level decision making.

The plans would require nationwide reorganisation similar to North Yorkshire, where eight councils were merged into one unitary authority last year.

Labour argues this will make local government simpler and more efficient, potentially delivering cost savings.

The plans would also give elected mayors greater powers over planning decisions and public transport.

Around half of England's population currently lives in areas not covered by devolution deals.

In Lincolnshire for example, the shake-up could see all eight existing councils merged into a single authority.