Labour could be compelled by the King to disclose the legal advice that triggered its dramatic U-turn on plans to cancel elections for millions of voters. Pressure intensified on Tuesday night as Local Government Secretary Steve Reed faced demands to resign over the local election debacle, which has emerged as Labour's 14th policy reversal since taking power, costing taxpayers an estimated £63 million to rectify.
Scrutiny Over Legal Advice and Ministerial Roles
Attorney General Lord Hermer is under intense scrutiny for his involvement in the original proposal to deny 4.6 million people a vote, following a last-minute alteration in legal advice that deemed the plan unlawful. The Liberal Democrats are now preparing to table a rare 'humble address' to the King next Tuesday, a parliamentary mechanism that would oblige the Government to publish the legal advice explaining its reversal.
Political Pressure and Calls for Transparency
The Conservatives successfully employed the same tactic earlier this month to force Labour to release documents related to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's appointment of Lord Mandelson as US ambassador. Both the Lib Dems and Reform UK have already urged the Government to disclose the legal advice concerning the local elections, a request typically denied by administrations. This advice had initially permitted 30 authorities to postpone polls scheduled for May 7 due to financial constraints.
Ben Maguire, the Lib Dems' shadow attorney general, told the Daily Mail: 'Lord Hermer and Steve Reed have serious questions to answer about how they could have respectively given and accepted legal advice that was so clearly wrong.'
Local Backlash and Financial Implications
Meanwhile, local council leaders expressed open revolt, with one branding Mr Reed a 'two-faced bully' and using expletives over the abandoned plans to delay elections. The U-turn, announced on Monday to proceed with all elections in May, preceded a legal challenge from Reform UK that was due to be heard on Thursday. Reform leader Nigel Farage hailed the reversal as 'a victory for democracy' and called for Mr Reed's resignation, noting the delay was only announced last month.
On Tuesday, Farage demanded the publication of both the original legal advice suggesting elections could be cancelled and the subsequent advice indicating it would be unlawful. The Government has agreed to cover Reform's legal costs, and Mr Reed announced an additional £63 million in funding would be allocated to affected councils to facilitate the elections.
Government Response and Ongoing Controversy
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock confirmed on Times Radio: 'We've received further legal advice, and all of these elections will go ahead.' However, the Attorney General's Office maintained that Lord Hermer is not required to disclose any potential legal advice provided. A spokesperson for the Local Government ministry reiterated: 'It remains a long-standing principle that government does not comment on or publish legal advice.'
This unfolding saga highlights deepening political tensions and raises questions about transparency and accountability within the Labour administration, as critics accuse Prime Minister Keir Starmer of attempting to disenfranchise millions of voters.
