Lib Dems call on Tories to back Lords bid to kill off local election delays

The Lib Dems are urging the Conservatives to back their motion in the House of Lords calling to reinstate delayed local elections.

Nine councils have had their May elections postponed for one year as Labour reorganises local government in England.

The Lib Dems have brought a fatal motion aimed at killing the move off completely, and the Green Party has a separate fatal motion. The Tories have tabled a "regret" motion to criticise the plans, but not halt them.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said that the Conservatives were "running scared" of losing seats to his party in local polls.

Sir Ed said: "This is a disgraceful stitch-up between Labour and the Conservatives.

"The Liberal Democrats made sweeping gains at the general election, and failing Conservative councils are now running scared of the voters.

"It's now down to Kemi Badenoch to make sure the Conservatives in the Lords to do the right thing and back our motion so we can restore votes to millions of people."

Lib Dem peer Baroness Pinnock, who tabled the motion, said: "It's clear that Conservative councils are running scared of the Liberal Democrats, asking for election delays so they can cling onto power.

"The Labour government is just leaving them in power well beyond their sell-by date.

"These election delays are wasteful, confused and pointless."

Lady Pinnock said the Tories' "cynical and toothless motion" would not change a thing.

The Conservatives have the highest number of peers in the Lords of any party.

The nine affected areas are East Sussex, West Sussex, Essex, Thurrock, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey.

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