Liberal Democrats call out Conservatives desperate attempt to cling to power at County Hall

In a letter to the government, released to councillors at 5pm on Wednesday 8th January, council leader Simon Geraghty and Chief Executive Paul Robinson confirmed that they wish to cancel the county council elections and start the process of moving towards a unitary authority. This would end the two tier system in the county, with district, city and borough councils merging with the county to create one authority.

The letter was released less than 24 hours before a full council meeting where the plans of the leader were not on the agenda. Liberal Democrats raised the issue in an emergency question at the council.

Group Leader Mel Allcott says, “I am simply baffled by the behaviour of the leadership. While Kent and Suffolk County Councils were debating the best way forward for their counties, we were having to force our leadership to even recognise there should be a discussion about the future of Worcestershire. Yet again, the leadership are trying to avoid scrutiny, ignore what residents may think and plan to cling to power.”

Councillor Dan Boatright-Greene, who wrote to all councillors after the letter was released, said, “I want to make it clear how undemocratic I consider this behaviour. I am not against a unitary authority but I am against a handful of people deciding the political make up of an entire county without consulting residents or elected members. There has to be an election because all of us lose our mandate in May. That’s how democracy works. We don’t move the goalposts.”