Nigel Farage has announced plans to launch a legal challenge against the Government’s decision to delay a set of inaugural mayoral elections.

Voters in Sussex and Brighton, Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Greater Essex were set to go to the polls next year for the first time to decide mayors for the newly created local authorities.

However, these have now been pushed back to May 2028, with Downing Street saying the decision would allow more time for reorganisation of local authorities under its devolution agenda.

However, opposition parties have criticised the move, with Reform UK’s Director of Policy Zia Yusuf called it a “blatant attempt to stop big win.”

Mr Farage told The Telegraph: “We are actively pursuing a judicial review action against the Government over yet another attempt to delay elections where they fear Reform will win.

“Labour’s plans to cancel even more votes this year than last year must be challenged.”

More to follow…

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Nigel Farage claims Reform would have won all four of the cancelled elections in scathing outburst
• WATCH: Keir Starmer DENIES ‘cancelling’ democracy after pushing off 4 mayoral elections until 2028
• Kemi Badenoch swipes at Labour’s latest ‘scandal’ after postponing mayoral elections: ‘They don’t know how to govern!’