The recent announcement that the Government would not be postponing the local elections in areas undergoing local government reorganisation (LGR) after all was met with strong criticism by several council leaders in the eastern region.
These leaders had requested a postponement of the elections following the Government's initial offer, and the subsequent change of the Government's position was not well received by several council leaders. In response to the election news, the Conservative leader of Norfolk CC, Cllr Kay Mason-Billig, stated that her administration would ‘not be assisting this Government to deliver local government reorganisation' while the Labour leader of Basildon BC, Cllr Gavin Callaghan stated ‘there is no doubt LGR in Essex is over'. But the Government has reiterated that it intends to go ahead.
