“People are being denied their right to decide what happens in Hastings”
Green Leader for Hastings Borough Council Julia Hilton says, following today’s Government announcement that the East Sussex County Council elections in May have been cancelled.
“People must be allowed to vote at the local elections in May. The big parties in Westminster claim they want to devolve more power to local councils, but now, by cancelling due elections, both Labour and Conservatives are responsible for the biggest removal of power away from local people in recent history.”
“This gives the failing Conservative administration in East Sussex a free pass. Only an election in May can hold them accountable for the last four years of poor decision-making and disregard for Hastings. Our fragile democracy can’t afford to ignore the people’s right to vote.
“Green candidates give people a real alternative to the failed Tory and Labour parties, and the Green Party will always defend local decision-making.
“With a five-fold increase in Green councillor numbers over the last five local elections, it does look like the two big parties are running scared of facing the voters.”
National Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay MP said, “How can the government claim an electoral mandate for these major local government changes if those most impacted see their elections cancelled?
“The Green Party is urging the government to save our democracy, allow these long-planned elections to take place and get around the table to discuss how to make devolution work for people in local areas across the country.
“We want decisions made closest to where they have the greatest impact with significant devolution of powers and funding from Westminster. Without that, people will grow ever more cynical about politics.”