'Abolish elections' claim sparks democracy row in Wirral (From Wirral Globe)

'Abolish elections' claim sparks democracy row in Wirral

1:22pm Monday 4th February 2013 in News Exclusive By Geoff Barnes

Plans by the ruling Labour group to introduce a four-year cycle of local elections has been slammed as "an attack on democracy" by the Tory opposition.

But council leader Cllr Phil Davies dismissed claims in a Tory notice of motion to next week’s Wirral Council meeting that the proposals meant the abolition of local elections.

He said: “This is completely untrue. We are suggesting that instead of elections every year they should be held every four years when every councillor will be standing for re-election.

“This is a model that has been adopted by several authorities and it will achieve savings of around £100,000 in administration costs.”

Conservative group leader Cllr Jeff Green said: “When you consider that across the world there has been an upsurge in people demanding elections – and dying in the pursuit - I find it extraordinary that the Labour administration wants to abolish elections.

“Elections are an annual opportunity for the residents of Wirral to pass judgement on the policies pursued by those chosen to lead the council and their stewardship of the money taken from the public’s pocket in local and national taxation.”

Councillor  Green’s notice of motion condemns Labour’s proposal to abolish annual local elections as “fundamentally undemocratic” and “a return to Labour's authoritative ways.”

The proposal would need to secure a two-thirds majority vote in council to be put into operation.