PRIME minister Sir Keir Starmer has responded to criticism of the Labour government and allegations that his party is 'running scared' by saying decisions to cancel local elections - including those in Basildon - were made by local councillors.

As reported yesterday (Thursday, 22 January), local government minister Steve Reed took to the floor in the House of Commons to deliver his decisions on which council elections in May would be going ahead, and which would not.  

The preamble to those decisions started with an invitation from another minister, Alison McGovern, for councils to submit their opinions on whether they had capacity to run elections at the same time as preparing for local government reorganisation (LGR).

Basildon was among a number of councils which said they believed capacity would be hindered if asked to do both but council Labour leader Cllr Gavin Callaghan has repeatedly been adamant that it is a decision made the the goivernment not him or his Labour group.

However, in a broadcast on ITV News last night, Sir Keir said the decision was entirely in the hands of local councillors.

He said: "The government is not taking the decision here. 

"We said to each council 'what do you want to do?' To go ahead or to delay? 

"This is locally-led. There have been Labour councils that have said it is better to delay and Tory councillors that have said it is better to delay - and in fact Lib Dem councils.

"So it's a mixture of common sense, but locally led."