Labour insiders fear ‘annihilation’ in Lancashire local elections after U-turn

Labour figures in the county with the highest number of reinstated council elections, following the government’s recent U-turn, have said they fear the party will be “annihilated” when voters go to the polls in May.The polls had expected to be postponed pending a reorganisation of local government in the county and a move to unitary authorities, but earlier this week the local government secretary, Steve Reed, scrapped plans to delay the elections, after Reform UK threatened a legal challenge.Two councils, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool, are already unitary authorities, while the other 12 districts are two-tier and sit under Lancashire county council.With the government’s U-turn, seven councils will now have elections in May they had not expected; Burnley, Blackburn, Hyndburn, Pendle, Chorley, West Lancashire and Preston – an area with nearly 790,000 people – meaning the county will have more unexpected elections than any other. A total of 30 local authorities will now hold elections in May when they had not expected to, with almost a quarter of those in Lancashire

Reform UK would restore two-child benefit cap, Jenrick says in policy U-turn

Reform UK would restore the two-child benefit cap in full, Robert Jenrick has announced, in a major U-turn for the party that critics said would plunge hundreds of thousands of children into poverty.In his first speech as Reform’s Treasury spokesperson, Jenrick said the party had changed tack since Nigel Farage last year said he would scrap the two-child limit and suggested his party wanted to go “much further to encourage people to have children”.As part of a full-frontal attack on benefits, Jenrick also said the Motability scheme, which enables disabled people to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair to help them be independent, would be reformed to “end abuse” where “expensive cars are handed out for conditions like tennis elbow and paid for by working people who can’t afford those cars themselves”.Jenrick also said only British nationals would be able to claim benefits under a Reform UK government, and people claiming benefits for “mild anxiety, depression, and similar conditions” would be stopped. Those with mental health issues would have to have a clinical diagnosis “to weed out those who are choosing a life on benefits”

Boss of BAE Systems urges ministers to publish delayed military spending plan

The boss of Britain’s biggest defence company has urged ministers to publish a long-delayed blueprint for military spending as soon as possible, as it posted record sales driven by a global increase in demand after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.Charles Woodburn, the chief executive of BAE Systems, said companies want clarity on how the money would be spent, adding that the defence investment plan (DIP) – due in late 2025 – was holding back investment.“We were expecting it before the end of last year and from an industry perspective we’re all keen to crack on,” he said on Wednesday. “The sooner the better as far as we’re concerned.“Earlier clarity means that industry can make plans and invest, deploy our strong balance sheets … so looking for clarity is important for business

Nigel Farage unveils Reform UK frontbench team and warns over dissent

Nigel Farage has unveiled the first part of Reform UK’s frontbench team, saying it shows that the party is no longer reliant entirely on him – while also warning that he will not tolerate any dissent from his colleagues.Two of the four appointees are recent defectors from the Conservatives: Robert Jenrick, who takes on the Treasury brief, and Suella Braverman, whom Farage has put in charge of education, skills and equalities.Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader, who before Jenrick’s arrival had been expected to have the Treasury role, has instead been handed a combined brief of business, trade and energy. Zia Yusuf, the party’s head of policy and the only one of the quartet not in parliament, has been given the home affairs and migration brief.Farage said the emergence of this team, with more posts to be announced soon, should end criticism that he runs a “one-man band”

What made ministers think they could delay local elections in England?

Ministers have abandoned their proposals to delay local elections in 30 English councils after finding they were likely to lose a legal case on the issue. Announced on Monday, the U-turn was made by the housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, after his boss, the housing secretary, Steve Reed, recused himself from the decision. The chain of events has raised several questions about government decision-making that officials are refusing to answer.Ministers have postponed local elections before. Last year Angela Rayner, as local government secretary, announced that elections for nine councils would be delayed to allow them to carry out a major reorganisation

Norfolk council leader pulls out of long-awaited devolution deal over election U-turn

A Norfolk council leader has accused the government of “bullying” her local authority into postponing elections in return for extra funding and powers, as she pulled out of long-awaited devolution deal for the county.Kay Mason Billig, the Conservative leader of Norfolk county council, said she would no longer take part in local government reorganisation (LGR) or devolution plans in the area, saying the council could not participate in that and simultaneously hold elections.Her announcement came after the government scrapped plans to postpone local elections at 30 councils in England undergoing reorganisation, in the face of a legal challenge from Reform UK.There are concerns the election U-turn, which will see officials scrambling to organise ballots in time for polling day in May, could throw plans for the biggest council shake-up in 50 years into disarray.“Words fail me for describing the mess the government have created with their election hokey cokey,” Billig said