Richard Tice accuses Labour of turning 'democracy into dictatorship' as he blasts mayoral election delay - 'Laughable!'

Asked by GB News host Stephen Dixon if there is any "legitimate reason" why Sir Keir would make such a move, Mr Tice declared: "Fear, that's the reason.

"They're absolutely terrified of Reform winning all of these four mayoral elections as we won two mayoral elections this May."

Warning that this is "just the beginning" of electoral delays, he added: "And I think this is, I'm afraid, just the beginning, because there are county council elections in these areas as well, next May.

"And I think that it will just be slipped out quietly, possibly in the coming months, that those are going to be cancelled as well, despite Angela Rayner having promised that they wouldn't."

Comparing the Labour Government to "dictators" for their decision, the Reform Deputy Leader stated: "There's some 7.5 million people who are affected, and generally it's dictators that cancel elections, not one of the finest democracies in the world, i.e. the United Kingdom.

"And the idea that they need a bit more time to get organised. Well, if the civil servants haven't got themselves organised, maybe they need to work a few longer hours in a day, maybe work a few weekends to get it sorted.

"That's what you do in the private sector, you've got a job to do, you've got a deadline, get it done."

As host Penny Smith argued that if it is a case of lack of organisation, political parties would be "on the warpath" if the elections went ahead in May 2026 and caused chaos.

Mr Tice disagreed, responding: "If it's really that difficult to organise it for May 7, maybe we could negotiate a two or four week extension, fine. But the idea that you need a two year extension is clearly nothing to do with 'we're not quite ready, guv'.

"It's all to do with 'we're terrified of the progress of Reform'. We're winning by-elections, week in, week out in Labour heartland areas like Sunderland, as we saw just last Thursday. It's terrified of another massive car crash next May, after the car crash of the Budget last week.

"And they're actually conspiring with the conservatives, where you've got council leaders from the Tory party who are writing to the Government saying please delay our own elections. I mean, it's horrendous but it's sort of laughable in a strange way as to just what's going on here. It's literally turning a democracy into a dictatorship."

Quizzed by Stephen on a possible pact with the Conservatives, Mr Tice dismissed the claims and stated that the Tories have "blown it" and should "recognise that they've had their chance".

He added: "Basically, they should do the right thing and recognise that after 200 years they've had the chance and they've blown it, and I don't think voters will forgive or forget the damage they've done.

"They should stand aside and let us take on the socialists and defeat them lock, stock and barrel so that we can rescue our country, save the economy and get the economy growing again. And that's the only way that we can start making people feel more prosperous.

"We need change, and the Tories have had their chance, they've blown it. It's time to let Reform take it on."

Pressed on the record-breaking £9million donation to Reform by British businessman Christopher Harborne, Mr Tice admitted it will be a "key part" of driving the party's growth.

He told GB News: "I've been in meetings all morning, so I was just hearing about it fresh. If that's true, then that's an extraordinary declaration of faith in Nigel's leadership, in Reform, in our potential and our growth.

"It would be remarkable. Of course, every political party is always out fundraising, and that could help us hugely over the coming years and would be a fantastic base level of funding from which to continue to grow and and succeed. This donation will be a really key part of helping drive that growth."