'They must go ahead!' Top Tory accuses Labour of 'holding Britons captive' after postponing four mayoral elections

Delivering his verdict on the decision, Mr Vickers told the People's Channel: "We've got to be getting on with them, and these elections must go ahead.

"We've been held captive by this Government and they do not want to face the electorate at all."

Praising the four "fantastic" candidates put forward by the Tories for the now postponed elections, the Tory MP stated: "We've got four fantastic candidates, and we know the difference they can make in those communities.

"We've seen what Ben Houchen has done up on Teesside in creating jobs, in driving change and saving our airport, and the people across the country want a bit more of that."

He added: "We want to get our candidates elected, we want to see these elections go ahead, and we want people to have the chance to have a say on what's going on."

Taking aim at Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Vickers criticised the Prime Minister for "making such a mess" of the country.

He fumed: "If you would make as much of a mess of this country as Keir Starmer is making, you can kind of understand why he's doing everything possible to avoid people having their say in this situation.

"He is destroying our economy. 19 per cent more people out of work, and last week he taxed working people to death.

"Plus record levels of tax in order to give £16billion in benefits to people who weren't working. It can't go on like this, he needs to be held to account."

Making clear that the Government must "give those communities across the country the chance to elect a mayor", GB News host Penny Smith argued that they will be able to vote as the elections are "only delayed, not cancelled".

Mr Vickers responded: "Yes, the mayoral elections are delayed, but there's no reason for them to be delayed.

"There was a bit of debate last time around council boundaries and what went on there, and perhaps there was an argument for delay, but there is no reason for these mayoral elections to be delayed."

Four newly combined authorities in Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk, Hampshire & the Solent and Sussex & Brighton will reportedly have their elections pushed back two years, having originally been slated for May 2026.

Reacting to the delay, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accused Sir Keir Starmer of acting like a "despot" and not a "democrat".

He said: "For the second year running, this failing Labour Government will now cancel elections in areas they fear that Reform will win.

"These are the actions of despots, not democrats."

Speaking to GB News, Reform UK Councillor Jaymey McIvor hit out at the "unbelievable" move by Sir Keir Starmer, declaring it is a "fundamental right" of Britons to vote.

He stated: "Yesterday, Reform UK announced their Essex mayoral candidate, and the following day they are going to cancel them.

"These are people's democratic rights, these are not optional elections. People have the right to vote and the Government should remember that."

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