Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has accused Sir Keir Starmer of acting like a “despot” after it was revealed Labour is preparing to cancel four mayoral elections slated for next May.

Mr Farage, who bemoaned Labour’s decision to axe local contests across Reform-leaning areas earlier this year, suggested the Prime Minister was stifling his momentum through the allegedly democracy-denying decision.

Four new combined authorities – Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk, Hampshire & the Solent and Sussex & Brighton – look set to have polls pushed back by two years.

Ministers are expected to confirm the delay later today, The Sun has revealed.

Responding to the delay, Mr Farage said: “For the second year running, this failing Labour Government will now cancel elections in areas they fear that Reform will win. These are the actions of despots, not democrats.”

Essex, which already had its council contest delayed earlier this year, is a Reform UK heartland, with Nigel Farage picking up two seats in the county at the last general election.

Polling aggregator Nowcast currently projects Reform UK to win 17 out of 18 Essex seats.

Meanwhile, Reform UK also looks poised to pick up 15 out of 18 seats in Suffolk and Norfolk.

Reform does appear set to make significant inroads in Hampshire and Sussex, albeit with a challenge from the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Labour and Tories.

Mr Farage also took a swipe at Tory leader Kemi Badenoch over Labour’s decision to axe the four mayoral contests.

Mrs Badenoch had accused Sir Keir of cancelling local elections for a second time.

“Democracy isn’t optional,” she added. “We will oppose this every step of the way.”

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However, Mr Farage pointed out how a number of Tory-run councils had agreed to cancel local elections after being approached by Sir Keir’s Government.

The Reform UK leader said: “Your own council leaders supported the cancellation of the county council elections both this year and last year. Shameless.”

Liberal Democrat MP Zoe Franklin also appeared to blame both Labour and the Tories following this morning’s announcement.

“This is a disgrace,” the Guildford MP said. “Democracy delayed is democracy denied.

“We are fighting to end this blatant stitch-up between Labour and the Conservatives over local elections.

“The Liberal Democrats will keep working to give millions of people their vote back in May.”

Labour’s decision to cancel the key mayoral races is expected to impact up to 5.4 million voters.

Devolution Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh called the council leaders to inform them about the decision last night.

However, Labour is still going ahead with mayoral contests Cheshire & Warrington and Cumbria in 2027.

All six county council elections slated for next May will also go ahead as scheduled, The Times has revealed.

Reform UK is hoping to perform strongly across the six contests, particularly in Essex.

Mr Farage is expected to set out his full response to the cancellation of the four mayoral elections at 3pm.