Under-fire Local Government Minister Steve Reed threatened a council leader “via back channels” in a bid to force through local election postponements.
That is according to Kay Mason Billig, the Tory leader of Norfolk County Council, who launched an explosive rant about Mr Reed, branding him a “two-faced bully”.
The Government had put elections on hold for 30 councils, including Norfolk, due to a wide-scale reorganisation of how local government is run.
But the Government carried out another U-turn on Monday after Mr Reed said “recent legal advice” confirmed the delays were illegal.
Councils across the country are now having to prepare for May 7 elections after previously being told they would not go ahead.
Mrs Mason Billig expressed her frustration at a council meeting on Tuesday and accused Mr Reed of attempting underhand tactics to force her council’s hand.
“I can now say what I like about the Secretary of State - I’ve never met him or spoken to him but I know him to be a two-faced bully who doesn’t care about Norfolk, who doesn’t care about local government, who doesn’t even care about his own Labour councillors”, she said.
“I’d really like to quote Rik Mayall at this point - what an utter, utter b*****d”.
She added: “Steve Reed made threats – not to my face, but through various back channels. I was left in no doubt that if we wanted the money and powers for devolution, then this council would have to agree to the postponements and deliver local government reorganisation.”
A Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government spokesman told GB News: “These claims are untrue. Norfolk’s place on the devolution priority programme has never been contingent on the timing of local authority elections and we remain committed to working with all local partners on mayoral devolution in Norfolk and Suffolk.”
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David Lammy faces Zack Polanski threat at next General Election
Zack Polanski will stand in a north London seat
| PAGreen Party Leader Zack Polanski has confirmed he will stand in either Tottenham, Hackney or Walthamstow in the next general election.
Should he decide to stand in Tottenham, he would likely face Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who currently holds the seat.
Mr Lammy is not the only high-profile figure under threat as the Green Party leader eyes up a north London seat.
Hackney North and Stoke Newington has been represented for almost 40 years by Diane Abbott, who has sat as an independent MP since being suspended from the Labour Party.
Walthamstow, represented by Stella Creasy, has been held by Labour since 1992.
National polling by YouGov for The Times has the Greens on 17 per cent, doubling their share from this time last year.
Laila Cunningham tells GB News moment which 'blew her away' during Reform UK cabinet announcement
Reform's Laila Cunningham has issued a rave reaction after Nigel Farage revealed Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman are set to hold key roles in the party's "Shadow Cabinet" today.
The Reform UK leader announced Mr Jenrick will serve as his Shadow Chancellor, with Mrs Braverman covering education and equalities.
Reacting to the major announcement today, Reform's London candidate heaped praise onto her party colleagues on GB News saying: "It's the dream team.
"If you listen to the press today, one thing that really blew me away was you could hear conviction.
"There was no mincing of words. There was no 'what exactly do they mean?'
"There were no innuendos. It was this is what we are going to do. And everyone understood exactly what a Reform Government will bring. That is really refreshing for me."
Reform announces Head of Policy replacement for Zia Yusuf
Reform UK has announced a new Head of Policy after Zia Yusuf vacated the role.
Mr Yusuf was handed the Home Affairs brief by Nigel Farage in his new shadow cabinet.
Philosopher James Orr has now taken the Head of Policy mantle.
He said on X: “Delighted to be taking on the role of Head of Policy at Reform.
“We’re going to build the best policy operation in British politics.
“And we will give our Shadow Cabinet all the support they need to govern.
“Britain needs new ideas.
Britain needs Reform.”
WATCH: Charlie Peters clashes with Labour activist over surging energy prices
A Labour activist has condoned skyrocketing energy prices despite GB News host Charlie Peters pointing out ballooning bills are weighing heavily on Britons.
Aisha Ali Khan, who joined GB News this afternoon, clashed with the presenter live on-air as they debated the impact of net zero on Britons today as well as future generations.
Ed Miliband handed dire net zero warning
Ed Miliband will fail to meet his net zero targets unless he spends an extra £75billion on renewables, according to a leading energy consultancy.
Wood Mackenzie has warned the UK does not have enough wind and solar to decarbonise the grid.
In a new report, the group said the Government must spend at least an extra £75billion by the end of this decade to have any chance of hitting its target of almost entirely clean power by 2030.
The consultancy said: “The UK has reached crunch time on climate commitments, with nearly all 2030 energy transition targets now out of reach.”
Rachel Reeves 'ambushed' with pancakes - WATCH
@keirstarmer Ever wondered what’s inside my red box? #pancakeday ♬ original sound - Keir Starmer
Watch the moment Sir Keir Starmer ‘ambushes’ his Chancellor Rachel Reeves with pancakes.
In a Shrove Tuesday-themed TikTok post, No10 showed the Prime Minister pulling the Chancellor into a room in Downing Street to reveal pancakes inside his ministerial red box.
The clip is a mockery of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was infamously “ambushed with a cake” during the Covid pandemic in a scandal that became known as “partygate”.
Reform would scrap the Equality Act, Suella Braverman confirms
Suella Braverman has pledged that her party would repeal the Equality Act 2010.
After being announced as Reform UK’s education and skills spokesperson, Mrs Braverman said the country is being “ripped apart by diversity, equality and inclusion policies”.
She added Reform will “build a country defined by meritocracy not tokenism, personal responsibility not victimhood, excellence not mediocrity, and unity not division”.
The general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) argued such a move “would be a sledgehammer to hard-won rights working people fought for over generations”.
Paul Nowak added: “If you’re discriminated against because you’re a woman, black, disabled, pregnant or gay - that’s fine with them.
“This is a blank cheque for bad employers to mistreat their staff.”
Labour prisons minister says he refers to prisoners as ‘colleagues’, not ‘offenders’
Prisons Minister Lord Timpson has said he prefers to call prisoners “colleagues” rather than “offenders”.
Lord Timpson was challenged about the language used within the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) when he appeared on The Secret Life of Prisons podcast.
Asked if he would stop referring to prisoners as “offenders”, the peer said: “I call them colleagues, because that’s the world I’ve come from, but I’m in the MoJ world… the word that the policy people use is ex-offender but I know there are lots of different words.
“I’m pretty flexible on the language I use, I’ve just sort of got my MoJ hat on today.”
Rupert Lowe was known by just 14 per cent of voters last March... now it's even lower
Rupert Lowe was booted out of Reform UK | PAFewer than one-in-10 British voters can identify Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe, a new poll conducted exclusively for GB News has revealed.
Polling firm JL Partners found Mr Lowe’s visibility has dropped from 14 per cent to just eight per cent in the 10 months after his expulsion from Reform UK in March 2025.
Reform UK voters also struggled to correctly identify Mr Lowe when shown a picture of the former Brexit Party MEP, with the proportion jumping from 71 per cent last March to 86 per cent.
The new polling, which included a representative sample of 2,242 UK adults, was released just days after Mr Lowe launched a new right-wing political party to challenge Reform UK.
Keir Starmer celebrates the origins of Shrove Tuesday
Keir Starmer talks up Christian aspect of Shrove Tuesday as he emphasises 'values that bring us together'Keir Starmer has discussed the Christian importance of Shrove Tuesday and put emphasis on the "values that bring us together".
Tuesday, February 17, marked the 2026 edition of Pancake Day.
Shrove Tuesday is particularly important in the Christian calendar, marking the final day before Lent, which begins the following day on Ash Wednesday.
The day signifies forgiveness, which sets a person free from spiritual guilt.
Sir Keir, who has previously said he grew up in a "loosely" Church of England family, has claimed to be an atheist during his premiership.
Though on Tuesday, the Prime Minister, who has faced criticism for his oversight of some events in the religious calendar, returned to his religious roots.
"Wishing a happy Shrove Tuesday to everyone who is celebrating," he posted on X.
"Rooted in Christian tradition, today is an opportunity to reflect on the values that bring us together."
Keir Starmer buys Donald Trump’s personalised cufflink gift for his son
Mr and Mrs Trump with Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria Starmer | REUTERSSir Keir Starmer has paid to keep a personalised pair of cufflinks gifted to him by President Trump during his state visit last year.
The gift, which would have otherwise been held by Downing Street, was bought by the Prime Minister for his teenage son.
The Cabinet Office revealed Sir Keir received the cufflinks along with a personalised necklace and a golf club from the President, while his wife was given a pair of cowboy boots.
He initially paid to keep the necklace while the other presents were listed as retained by No 10, but an updated register of ministers’ interests on Tuesday showed he had bought both items of jewellery.
Sir Keir and Lady Starmer hosted Mr Trump and his wife, Melania, at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country retreat, in September following the president’s stay with the King and Queen at Windsor Castle.
Nigel Farage threatens to sack Reform rebels
Nigel Farage has threatened to sack any Reform UK rebels after being warned about accepting ex-Tories who were part of the last Conservative Government.
The Reform UK leader said: "Very simple - if people mess about, behave badly and are disloyal, they won't be here very long.
"We're not going to put up with it."
The Clacton MP insisted that "disagreements" will happen in private.
He added: "I won't tolerate it publicly."
'If I was hit by a bus, Reform has its own identity' - Nigel Farage shares pride at party's 'new phase'
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has admitted he is "proud" of the party entering a "new phase" with an "established identity".
Addressing a press conference in Westminster, Mr Farage said: "I tell you what I'm really pleased about, a year ago, you look at opinion polls and Farage is popularity and the party's popularity were two different things. There was a big gap between the two.
"Now, if I was hit by a bus tomorrow, Reform has its own brand, Reform has its own identity, and now Reform has its own senior characters with their own departments to lead, so I'm enormously proud of that.
"But I can assure you that that phase, that phase of getting this thing going, of raising the money, of raising our profile, we're past that phase, and that's what today is actually all about."
WATCH: Suella Braverman speaks to GB News after being announced as spokeswoman for education and skills
Reform have 'forgotten' about Foreign and Health Secretary, says Lib Dems
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, has claimed Reform "hasn't bothered" with a Health Secretary, and "forgotten" to announce a Foreign Secretary during Nigel Farage's unveiling of his "Shadow Cabinet" on Tuesday.
"Not surprising Farage hasn't bothered to announce a health spokesperson - his entire team is populated by politicians who broke the NHS," Sir Ed said on X.
"They've also forgotten about a foreign affairs spokesperson, but I guess they will take their orders straight from Trump's White House anyway."
Mr Farage said during his press conference that Tuesday's announcement of the first four members of his "Shadow Cabinet" was "just the beginning".
'They failed Britain before,' says Labour following Reform's 'Shadow Cabinet' unveiling
Labour Chair Anna Turley has released a statement after Reform UK announced their "Shadow Cabinet" on Monday morning.
Ms Turley said: "[Nigel] Farage’s top team of failed Tories spent over 3,000 days inflicting untold damage on our country in government, trashing our economy, hammering families’ mortgages, and leaving our borders open. They failed Britain before – they’d do the same again under Reform.
"Today’s appointments clearly reveal that neither keeping our nation safe nor tackling NHS waiting lists are priorities for Farage or Reform UK.
"Only Keir Starmer’s Labour Government is delivering on the people’s priorities by tackling the cost of living and cutting NHS waiting lists."
Robert Jenrick takes swipe at Labour cabinet for private sector experience
Robert Jenrick has taken aim at the Labour cabinet for lacking private sector experience - something he says he boasts much of.
"Unlike everyone in this Labour Cabinet, I have worked in the private sector - in fact I only worked in the private sector," he said.
He says he adds "experience to this team," who share a "diagnosis about what has gone in this economy wrong in the last 20 or 30 years."
Nigel Farage joked that Mr Jenrick has "had more private sector experience than the whole of the cabinet added together and times five."
Nigel Farage dismisses Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain as a threat despite Elon Musk backing
Nigel Farage has dismissed Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain Party as a threat to Reform. The party was announced on Monday morning.
The Great Yarmouth MP, who now sits as an independent, had a public falling out with Mr Farage. He was elected as a Reform MP in last year's General Election but suspended by the party in March, amid claims of threats towards the party's now Shadow Home Secretary, Zia Yusuf.
When quizzed on whether Mr Lowe's new party poses a threat to Reform, Mr Farage said: "Last time we counted there are 11 parties that claim to be on the right or centre right of English politics.
"There is only one proper brand of centre-right politics in this country - it's called Reform. People think 'Oh, Farage has done it, we'll just set a party up and it will be marvellous, we will sweep the next election!'
"It just isn't as easy as that. Does he have a profile? Yes, he does. Is Elon [Musk] going to support him? Probably. But, what he stood up and said that we have got to consider the mass deportation of entire communities, including those born in the United Kingdom - that just moves way beyond a point of reason, decency, morality.
"That was the moment of which i realised we had to get rid of him, and get rid of him as quickly as we could. I think in terms of the way we dealt with that, we were probably more brutal than other parties. But you know what? That's the way it's going to be."
'I'm very surprised he's still in position,' says Nigel Farage after court victory on Monday
Nigel Farage has said he is "very surprised" Steve Reed remains in his position after Labour were forced to cancel their plans to delay the May elections on Monday.
"I'd love to see all the legal advice - I wonder if there was any," Mr Farage said. "They got away with it last year, they thought they could get away with it this year.
"They didn't realise or reason that we would have the muscle to take them to judicial review.
"I was delighted when the boss of the electoral commission at the weekend said what they were doing was illegal - clearly what they did was illegal, they knew they were going to lose in court, that is why they caved in.
"All of which makes me ask: how can Steve Reed go on as the minister responsible, having attempted to take away the vote from 4.6 million people. I'm very surprised he's still in position after yesterday's decision."
WATCH: Nigel Farage tells GB News 'this is just the beginning' as Christopher Hope quizzes Reform UK leader on Cabinet
Tories lament Reform 'Shadow Cabinet' as a 'tribute act'
The Chairman of the Tory party has blasted Reform's "Shadow Cabinet" announcement as a "tribute act" after Nigel Farage announced the first four members of his top team.
Kevin Hollinrake MP said: "After months of infighting and leaks, Nigel Farage has unveiled a front bench dominated by ex-Conservatives - a line-up that looks more like a tribute act to the old Conservative Party than a credible alternative.
"Even now, some are already eyeing their next career move, while others who were clearly expecting promotion have been left out in the cold.
"Today’s underwhelming announcement proves Reform remains a one-man band. Only the Conservatives, under Kemi Badenoch, have the depth, experience and serious plan to Get Britain Working Again."
Suella Braverman announced as Shadow Education, Skills and Equalities Secretary
Suella Braverman, who defected from the Tories last month, has been unveiled as the Shadow Education, Skills and Equalities Secretary.
"What we teach children and how we teach them has a profound affect on the destiny of our country," she says.
Mrs Braverman vows to deliver a "patriotic and balanced curriculum", and put an "end to the transgender chaos in the classroom".
"Social and gender transitioning will be absolutely banned in all schools - no ifs, no buts," she proclaims.
The Shadow Equalities Minister then says Reform will immediately "scrap" the Equalities department, in turn putting herself "out of a job", she jokes.
Shadow Home Secretary announced as Zia Yusuf
Zia Yusuf has been announced as Reform UK's Shadow Home Secretary.
He opens by setting out his stall immediately: "Britain has been overwhelmed by immigration, both illegal and legal."
"If you are in this country illegally and you are watching this, I want to be crystal clear: as Reform's Home Secretary, I will make sure you are deported," he says.
Robert Jenrick unveiled as Shadow Chancellor
Robert Jenrick has been unveiled as the Shadow Chancellor.
The former Tory blasted "decades of mismanagement" in Downing Street, however said: "This government is in a league of its own."
He accused Labour of "vandalism" and delivering "chaos". He vows to put together "the most comprehensive plan of any political party in this country, to fix Britain's broken economy."
He then thanks Nigel Farage for giving him the opportunity to challenge the "wrecking ball" Rachel Reeves.
His first "big" press conference will be tomorrow at 11am.
Richard Tice announced as Shadow Business, Trade and Energy Secretary
The first announcement sees Richard Tice take to the stage.
Mr Tice has been given the role of the new "super-department" Business, Trade and Energy.
He will also be the Deputy Prime Minister, should Reform be elected at the next General Election.
Nigel Farage described the role as "very, very important".
Nigel Farage begins press conference to announce 'Shadow Cabinet'
Nigel Farage has arrived on stage as he is set to announce his "Shadow Cabinet" this morning.
He begins by hailing yesterday's "big win" after Labour cancelled plans to delay local elections across the country. This was important "not just for us, but for the country," he says.
Then he mentions the notorious "one-man band" he has been labelled with before, and how this is set to change...
Donald Trump condemns Ed Miliband over 'inappropriate' green energy deal: 'The UK's got enough trouble'
Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on UK energy secretary Ed Miliband after Labour signed a green energy agreement with California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The US President described the memorandum of understanding as “inappropriate”.
Mr Trump told Politico: “The UK’s got enough trouble without getting involved with Gavin Newscum.”
He went on to criticise the Democratic governor’s record in office, delivering a strongly worded assessment of his leadership and environmental policies.
WATCH: 'I'm not going to pretend it's ideal,' says Labour MP on cancelling plans to delay elections
MPs could investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s work as a trade envoy: 'Nothing is off the table'
MPs could still investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s works as a trade envoy, the chairman of the cross-party Business and Trade Committee has said, adding that "nothing is off the table".
Speaking to the BBC, Liam Byrne said: "The committee’s not had a chance to reflect on these allegations because recess means Parliament isn’t sitting this week.
"My task this week is to make sure that the committee’s got options in front of them when they meet on Tuesday for how we might or might not take this investigation forward. Obviously, we can’t and don’t want to compromise a police investigation.
"We’ve got quite strict rules about subdue to say and getting involved in things that may come before the cause, but this is obviously a matter of huge concern, and I’m going to make sure that my committee has got the full options available for how we take our investigations forward when they convene next Tuesday morning.
He added: "This is something we’re going to take acutely seriously, and I can guarantee you that MPs are not in the market for letting anything slip through the cracks. But you know."
"My job as the chair is to make sure that the options are on the table in front of them when we consider it next week when Parliament resumes," Mr Byrne concluded.
Kemi Badenoch reacts to rocketing unemployment rates
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has reacted to the rising unemployment rates, as released earlier this morning.
"Unemployment at a 5 YEAR HIGH under Labour," Mrs Badenoch said on X. "While Keir Starmer is distracted by scandals and endless U-turns, families are being punished.
"Labour are killing jobs, killing growth and killing hope for the next generation. Only @Conservatives have a plan to get Britain working."
Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "The highest unemployment rate since Covid - rising relentlessly since Labour came to power.
"Thousands of jobs being lost each month. This is the inevitable consequence of Labour’s massive tax increase on jobs, coming regulation on employment and hugely generous welfare payments."
WATCH IN FULL: Zia Yusuf hails 'historic day' for British politics after Labour's attempt to 'deny democracy' and discusses Reform 'shadow Cabinet'
Unemployment figures show 'economic incompetence' from 'zombie government', says Tories
The Tories have accused Labour of "economic incompetence" after the latest unemployment figures were released.
Tuesday's figures show a five-year high, with rates hitting 5.2 per cent in the three months to December - the highest level of unemployment the UK has seen since January 2021.
Andrew Griffith MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade, said: "These figures show the impact of a ‘zombie government’ with no plan for growth.
"Labour’s Jobs Tax, economic uncertainty and their red tape Employment Rights Bill are holding back hiring, creating a jobless generation.
"Only the Conservatives will cut red tape, lower taxes and build a Stronger Economy to get Britain Working Again."
Helen Whately MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: "An unprecedented series of monthly unemployment increases is the hallmark of this Labour Government. The predictable result of bad decisions and economic incompetence.
"Young people are taking the hardest hit. Entry-level roles are the first to disappear from Labour’s tax hikes. By making hiring more expensive and more risky, Labour have are ensuring school leavers and graduates never even get a foot in the door.
"Only the Conservatives have a plan to get Britain working again."
In contrast, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: "Today’s figures show there are 381,000 more people in work since the start of 2025, but we know there is more to do to get people into jobs.
"Our £1.5 billion drive to tackle youth unemployment is a key priority and this month we announced that we’ll make it easier for young people to find and secure an apprenticeship, which comes on top of our investment to create 50,000 new apprenticeships."
Looking ahead to today: Reform's 'shadow Cabinet' announcement
The big story dominating today is Reform's press conference at 11am, where Nigel Farage will unveil his "shadow Cabinet".
Disclaimer; these positions hold no constitutional weight as of yet, rather a spokesman for their respected positions while they are not the Opposition nor in No10.
Fresh from his bombshell defection last month, Robert Jenrick is expected to be announced as the Party's Shadow Chancellor. When asked about this by GB News's Christopher Hope yesterday evening, Mr Jenrick simply said: "You're going to have to wait..."
GB News understands prior to the MP for Newark's arrival, it was instead Zia Yusuf who was in line for the top job, having previously told outlets he was keen for the role. He joins us on the channel this morning.
Mr Yusuf is instead expected to land the Home Office role - a crucial cog in Reform's wheel given their focus on deportations. Richard Tice is expected to be given a combined role as Business and Energy Secretary, while Lee Anderson has already been unveiled as Chief Whip and spokesman for work and pensions.
Some outlets have also reported former Tory Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi is in line for Foreign Office.
BREAKING: Unemployment hits five year high as Rachel Reeves faces youth joblessness crisis
The dismal figures follow Britain's youth unemployment overtaking the EU | PAThe unemployment rate increased to 5.2 per cent in the three months to December, compared with 5.1 per cent in the period to November, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The figures released on Tuesday will come as a blow to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has pledged to improve opportunity and rebuild the economy.
It's the highest level of unemployment the UK has seen since January 2021, with the number of pay-rolled employees in the UK falling by 121,000 (0.4 per cent) last year.
This latest release is the latest sign that the jobs market is continuing to deteriorate.
Robert Jenrick reveals exact reason why Labour U-turned on local elections
Last night, Robert Jenrick revealed the advice he recieved from Government lawyers which may have imperilled Labour's plan to cancel elections on May 7.
Mr Jenrick told The Telegraph how he was told during the pandemic, when he was Local Government Secretary, that "the Secretary of State wouldn’t have the power to delay democracy".
"During the height of Covid, there were clearly exceptional circumstances which made close social contact risky," he said.
"Even then, the most senior government lawyers advised that it would almost certainly be unlawful to cancel local elections two years running.
"They made clear that the Secretary of State - rightly - wouldn’t have the power to delay democracy. It could not have been stronger. That advice will not have changed."
His successor in charge of local government, Steve Reed, is said to have been handed a similar warning earlier this year.
He then turned the decision over to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, who advised the Government to abandon the delays.
JUST IN: Labour MP pushes call for Britain to hand over billions in 'colonialism reparations'
A Labour MP has shared a demand for Britain to hand over billions of pounds in "colonialism reparations".
Backbencher Bell Ribeiro-Addy voiced support for the African Union's push to secure the handouts from Western countries including the UK.
On social media, she drew attention to a deal to bring forward a UN resolution next month that would classify the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity.
The MP has previously called on the Government to "engage" in reparations discussions, arguing that steps must be taken to address the "enduring legacies of slavery and colonialism"...
RECAP: Labour would face electoral wipeout in cancelled local elections - party would lose HALF of seats up for grabs
Last month, a bombshell poll found Labour would have lost control of 10 councils if the May elections were allowed to take place.
The "mega-poll" from JL Partners shared by The Telegraph, surveying 5,000 voters across 25 affected council areas, showed Sir Keir Starmer's party trailing behind Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
Reform is on course to take 28 per cent of the vote in areas where contests have been scrapped, with the Conservatives behind on 21 per cent and Labour languishing in third place on 17 per cent.
Labour would lose outright control of six councils including Exeter, Preston and Thurrock, while four more would see their majorities completely wiped out.
Overall, Keir Starmer's would be expected to lose just under half (93) of the 188 seats it would be defending in the cancelled elections, based on JL Partners’ subset of 25 councils for which polling was available...
'Labour's attempt to hide from voters will be costly' warns Tory peer
Lord Pickles, the Local Government Secretary from 2010 to 2015, said it will be an "expensive rush" for the 30 councils affected by Monday's U-turn to put elections back on.
"The department within local authorities is traditionally small; additional resources will have to be applied to ensure the necessary administration is carried out in relation to the various notices," he said.
"Political parties will be in a scramble to contest every seat and raise money to do so. Labour's attempt to hide from the voters will be costly in every sense of the word."
Councils face race against time to hold elections as Kemi Badenoch laments 'predictable chaos'
Kemi Badenoch said the U-turn was 'predictable chaos from a useless Government'
| GETTYThirty councils which suddenly have to face voters are now facing a race against time to hold elections on May 7.
The group representing ballot organisers has said election staff had lost "months" of planning time under the assumption that votes would not go ahead.
City councils in Lincoln, Exeter, Norwich, Peterborough and Preston had been among those where ballots were not to take place in May, alongside districts such as Cannock Chase, Harlow, Welwyn Hatfield and West Lancashire.
Polling day had also been postponed for county council voters in East Sussex, West Sussex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Some £63million will now be made available to local authorities which are being reorganised as part of Labour's plans.
The leader of one Labour-run council in Reform UK heartland Thurrock, Lynn Worrall, said it was "disappointing that this decision has been reversed so late in the day".
Tory councillor Richard Wright, the chairman of the District Councils' Network, said council officers, councillors and local electorates "will be bewildered by the unrelenting changes to the electoral timetable".
Mr Wright added: "The councils affected face an unnecessary race against time to ensure elections proceed smoothly and fairly, with polling stations booked and electoral staff available."
His party leader, Kemi Badenoch, added that the U-turn was "predictable chaos from a useless Government that cannot make basic decisions".
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