Newslinks for Friday 23rd January 2026
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
4.5m to be denied vote as more polls axed
“Labour announced plans on Thursday to deny 4.5 million people a vote, with two of Britain’s biggest councils allowed to delay elections. Tory-controlled Suffolk and Norfolk were among 29 authorities given permission to cancel May’s ballot. The Conservative-led Essex council is also said to have privately discussed the possibility of a cancellation with ministers, which would deny a further 1.1 million people a vote. The delays mean that millions of people will have been left with no say over who controls their local services and council tax for up to seven years. The Telegraph has launched a Campaign for Democracy, calling for ministers to be stripped of their legal powers to cancel local elections. MPs across the political divide reacted angrily to the announcement by Steve Reed, the Communities Secretary, that elections would be postponed in 29 areas, including 15 Labour-run councils.” – Daily Telegraph
How Tory councils stripped 1.4m people of their right to vote – Daily Telegraph
Labour scraps more local elections … after pleas from Tories – The Times
Minsters pushed to cancel local elections in dozens of mostly Labour areas despite warning the move is ‘almost certainly illegal’ – Daily Mail
Twenty-nine English councils to delay elections, minister confirms – BBC News
Comment:
Farage’s excuses are unfitting for a man who would be PM – Jawad Iqbal, The Times
Cancelling elections is hardly anti-fascist – Telegraph View
Nigel Farage was right on his old by-election principles – Sebastian Payne, The Times
> Today:
Shadow Cabinet League Table: Badenoch beats Jenrick in pre-defection poll
George Trefgarne: Time for critics to stop tilting at Tory windmills – Badenoch understands conservatism
> Yesterday:
Will Calverley: Cancelling elections does not make difficult issues disappear
Starmer’s allies to bar the return of Burnham
“Keir Starmer’s allies have launched a “Stop Andy Burnham” campaign to prevent the Labour mayor from returning to parliament after the resignation of a Manchester MP triggered a byelection. Multiple members of the party’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) predicted it would be impossible for Burnham to make it through the selection process given the number of Starmer loyalists on the body desperate to avoid a leadership challenge. The Labour party machine sprang into action after the Guardian revealed on Thursday that Andrew Gwynne was planning to quit due to ill health, with officials and MPs warning about the financial cost and political risk of a subsequent mayoral race. However, allies of the Greater Manchester mayor suggested there would be significant disquiet among MPs, the unions and party members should the leadership try to block him from returning to …
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
4.5m to be denied vote as more polls axed
“Labour announced plans on Thursday to deny 4.5 million people a vote, with two of Britain’s biggest councils allowed to delay elections. Tory-controlled Suffolk and Norfolk were among 29 authorities given permission to cancel May’s ballot. The Conservative-led Essex council is also said to have privately discussed the possibility of a cancellation with ministers, which would deny a further 1.1 million people a vote. The delays mean that millions of people will have been left with no say over who controls their local services and council tax for up to seven years. The Telegraph has launched a Campaign for Democracy, calling for ministers to be stripped of their legal powers to cancel local elections. MPs across the political divide reacted angrily to the announcement by Steve Reed, the Communities Secretary, that elections would be postponed in 29 areas, including 15 Labour-run councils.” – Daily Telegraph
How Tory councils stripped 1.4m people of their right to vote – Daily Telegraph
Labour scraps more local elections … after pleas from Tories – The Times
Minsters pushed to cancel local elections in dozens of mostly Labour areas despite warning the move is ‘almost certainly illegal’ – Daily Mail
Twenty-nine English councils to delay elections, minister confirms – BBC News
Comment:
Farage’s excuses are unfitting for a man who would be PM – Jawad Iqbal, The Times
Cancelling elections is hardly anti-fascist – Telegraph View
Nigel Farage was right on his old by-election principles – Sebastian Payne, The Times
> Today:
Shadow Cabinet League Table: Badenoch beats Jenrick in pre-defection poll
George Trefgarne: Time for critics to stop tilting at Tory windmills – Badenoch understands conservatism
> Yesterday:
Will Calverley: Cancelling elections does not make difficult issues disappear
Starmer’s allies to bar the return of Burnham
“Keir Starmer’s allies have launched a “Stop Andy Burnham” campaign to prevent the Labour mayor from returning to parliament after the resignation of a Manchester MP triggered a byelection. Multiple members of the party’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) predicted it would be impossible for Burnham to make it through the selection process given the number of Starmer loyalists on the body desperate to avoid a leadership challenge. The Labour party machine sprang into action after the Guardian revealed on Thursday that Andrew Gwynne was planning to quit due to ill health, with officials and MPs warning about the financial cost and political risk of a subsequent mayoral race. However, allies of the Greater Manchester mayor suggested there would be significant disquiet among MPs, the unions and party members should the leadership try to block him from returning to …
Newslinks for Friday 23rd January 2026
Transparency shouldn't be controversial.
4.5m to be denied vote as more polls axed
“Labour announced plans on Thursday to deny 4.5 million people a vote, with two of Britain’s biggest councils allowed to delay elections. Tory-controlled Suffolk and Norfolk were among 29 authorities given permission to cancel May’s ballot. The Conservative-led Essex council is also said to have privately discussed the possibility of a cancellation with ministers, which would deny a further 1.1 million people a vote. The delays mean that millions of people will have been left with no say over who controls their local services and council tax for up to seven years. The Telegraph has launched a Campaign for Democracy, calling for ministers to be stripped of their legal powers to cancel local elections. MPs across the political divide reacted angrily to the announcement by Steve Reed, the Communities Secretary, that elections would be postponed in 29 areas, including 15 Labour-run councils.” – Daily Telegraph
How Tory councils stripped 1.4m people of their right to vote – Daily Telegraph
Labour scraps more local elections … after pleas from Tories – The Times
Minsters pushed to cancel local elections in dozens of mostly Labour areas despite warning the move is ‘almost certainly illegal’ – Daily Mail
Twenty-nine English councils to delay elections, minister confirms – BBC News
Comment:
Farage’s excuses are unfitting for a man who would be PM – Jawad Iqbal, The Times
Cancelling elections is hardly anti-fascist – Telegraph View
Nigel Farage was right on his old by-election principles – Sebastian Payne, The Times
> Today:
Shadow Cabinet League Table: Badenoch beats Jenrick in pre-defection poll
George Trefgarne: Time for critics to stop tilting at Tory windmills – Badenoch understands conservatism
> Yesterday:
Will Calverley: Cancelling elections does not make difficult issues disappear
Starmer’s allies to bar the return of Burnham
“Keir Starmer’s allies have launched a “Stop Andy Burnham” campaign to prevent the Labour mayor from returning to parliament after the resignation of a Manchester MP triggered a byelection. Multiple members of the party’s ruling national executive committee (NEC) predicted it would be impossible for Burnham to make it through the selection process given the number of Starmer loyalists on the body desperate to avoid a leadership challenge. The Labour party machine sprang into action after the Guardian revealed on Thursday that Andrew Gwynne was planning to quit due to ill health, with officials and MPs warning about the financial cost and political risk of a subsequent mayoral race. However, allies of the Greater Manchester mayor suggested there would be significant disquiet among MPs, the unions and party members should the leadership try to block him from returning to …
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