'Taking democracy from the people' Councillor blasts Labour for plans to merge councils
The proposals aim to streamline services by merging smaller district councils with larger county councils
A Reform UK councillor has blasted Labour's plans to merge local councils as "Orwellian double talk" that would strip power from communities.
Thomas Mallon, who represents Grove, Greenhithe and Swanscombe, warned the proposals would take democracy "out of the hands of local people" and give it to bureaucrats who "don't care" about local issues.
