A 63-year-old retiree is refusing to pay her local council tax over plans to overhaul local government by replacing the existing two-tier council system with unitary authorities as it deprives them of their "democratic right as a citizen" to vote for Reform UK.
Proud GB News member Jane Chapman has dutifully paid her council tax in her local government district of Castle Point in south Essex for 43 years.
The long-standing Conservative voter, who defected to Reform last year, was looking forward to voting for her new party in the local council elections in May.
Recent polling suggests Ms Chapman's vote would not be a wasted one. Pollsters from Find Out Now project Reform winning the seat, currently held by Conservative MP Rebecca Harris, if an election were held tomorrow.
However, Labour’s devolution plans to turn 18 two-tier councils in England into unitary authorities could see Castle Point merged with Southend and unitary authority Thurrock.
A 63-year-old retiree is refusing to pay her local council tax over plans to delay local May elections
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This will delay the election in the 53-year-old's constituency.
Local council leaders say this allows for a seamless transition to the new system, avoiding the disruption and expense of elections during a critical period of restructuring.
However, Reform UK has blasted the move, accusing Labour of a cynical plot with the Conservatives to thwart the insurgent party's rise.
Reform MP Rupert Lowe has floated the idea of constituents refusing to pay their council tax as these structural changes were foisted upon them without consent, posting on X: "I put these questions to the minister - why should my constituents continue to pay full council tax, when their democratic right is being stripped from them in May?"
Ms Chapman is currently exploring her options to do just that.
"My democratic right as a citizen to vote for my local councillor has been taken away from me," she told GB News, adding: "I don't see why I should pay my council tax given that they have not fulfilled their part of the obligation."
The 63-year-old retiree's decision does not come lightly - she has dutifully paid her council tax all her working life, "never missing a month", but it's a matter of principle.
"I'm refusing on these grounds and until I know that I'm doing something that's actually unlawful, I'm going to go through with it," she said.
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Reform UK has blasted the move, accusing Labour of a cynical plot with the Conservatives to thwart the insurgent party's rise
X/ Nigel FarageShe's not alone in thinking of taking radical action, with one user writing on X: "If they [Labour] cancel or delay them a year, then the British public should do exactly the same with their Council tax payments until all the local elections go ahead."
A second user wrote: "If they refuse to hold elections, no matter their excuse. REFUSE TO PAY YOUR COUNCIL TAX."
Labour insists that the restructuring isn't politically motivated, rather, it's designed to enhance devolution and streamline administrative structures.
Councillor Kevin Bentley, Leader of Essex County Council, has defended the decision, arguing: “Postponing elections is a decision which would not be taken lightly, but it has proven to work in other areas where this type of organisational change has already taken place. The law would prevent us from communicating as politicians during a crucial period, and we cannot let anything distract us from getting the best deal for Essex.”
The People’s Independent Party in Castle Point does not buy it, calling the plan “outrageous” and accusing the council of extending its tenure for political expediency.
A petition launched by Reform UK’s Tom Allison demands the elections proceed as scheduled, arguing that new councillors are essential to oversee the devolution process.
Reform UK has launched a petition on its website that has garnered 207,866 signatures at the time of writing.
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