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Labour accused of trampling local democracy as Angela Rayner says she will FORCE mass council mergers - and elections could be ditched this May

The article from the Daily Mail discusses Labour's plan to merge local councils in England, which has sparked controversy over potential threats to local democracy. Angela Rayner, Labour's deputy leader, has proposed reducing the number of councils to save costs and improve efficiency, arguing that smaller councils are not financially viable. Critics, including Conservative MPs and local government leaders, argue that this move would centralize power, diminish local representation, and could lead to a loss of community identity. They fear that larger councils would be less accountable to local residents and might overlook the specific needs of smaller communities. The plan has been described as an attack on local democracy, with concerns raised about the lack of consultation with local authorities and the potential for significant job losses among council staff.

Read the Full Daily Mail Article at:
[ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14197847/Labour-trampling-local-democracy-Angela-Rayner-council-mergers.html ]