Local Political Reactions to County Council’s Proposal to Postpone Elections

Published on: 6 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 6 Jan, 2025

Local parties were invited to comment on news that Surrey County Council is proposing to postpone county council elections, scheduled for May, until the Government’s “devolution” reorganisation of local authorities, under which borough and district councils in Surrey will be dissolved and replaced by two unitary authorities, has been completed.

See also: SCC Leader Seeking Postponement of County Council Elections to Focus on Devolution

Here is what they said…

Cllr Julia McShane

The leader of the Lib Dems at Guildford Borough council, Julia McShane, said: “We are against cancelling the county elections. Doing so would reward Surrey County Council’s Conservatives for their failure to fix our roads, manage taxpayers’ money effectively or address the Special Educational Needs crisis by giving them an extra 18 months in office. Most importantly it denies local people their democratic right to vote and hold councillors to account.

“Cancelling the elections also assumes a plan exists for unitary authorities that sensibly balances the needs of local people and communities. This plan does not exist yet, because it is just two weeks since the government announcement and Surrey Conservatives have refused to talk with borough councils or MPs to put together a plan that has broad support.

“As Liberal Democrats we believe that decisions should be taken as close to people and communities as possible. This principle will be at the heart of our approach to potential unitary authorities in Surrey.”

A spokesperson for Guildford Conservatives backed their colleagues at SCC saying: “The Guildford Conservative Association believe it is correct that Surrey County Council take a proactive role in influencing changes which are ultimately being instigated nationally by the Labour government.

“In this way, SCC Conservatives are seeking the best deal in the interest of all Surrey residents. A postponement would avoid inefficient re-runs of elections whilst ensuring the democratic process still happens soon, including an opportunity to reassess the Lib-Dem-led Guildford Borough Council, which continues to fail Guildford residents.”

Cllr Joss Bigmore

While agreeing, Residents for Guildford & Villages (R4GV) leader Joss Bigmore thought the Government’s timetable was too short: “I don’t think SCC has much choice, the Labour Government has clearly stated what it wants (ie unitaries and mayors) and Surrey faces being left behind if it doesn’t embrace the opportunity.

“Surrey is the only county that positively contributes to the Treasury, given we effectively subsidise the rest of the country it would be unthinkable to not have a seat at the ‘High Table’.

“That being said, I think the timetable set by the Government is far too fast, and another example of policy without proper thought and analysis, following VAT on school fees, winter fuel allowance, NI increases, and farm inheritance tax, which all smack of ideology before intelligence.”

A spokesperson for Guildford Labour said: “Guildford Labour believes that Guildford would be better served by a unitary authority and has campaigned for this in recent elections. However, establishing these reforms will take some time; it does not seem democratic to deny residents the chance of expressing their views as to who they would like to see make those decisions.

“We do not think that the current Tory Country Council has run an effective or efficient council and have little confidence that they will do better in handling this important reform to local governance.  We therefore think it essential that elections go ahead in May so that residents will be able to choose which parties they would like to see managing these far-reaching reforms.”

The Guildford Greenbelt Group was also invited to comment.

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