The cold winter night began with placards pressed against the windows of a community centre and amicable chants of “let us vote” as councillors in Redditch debated cancelling local elections. But by late evening, one of the Worcestershire town’s residents had been called a “Nazi” by a Labour councillor as police were called to defuse tensions. Councillor Ian Woodall has since apologised for the outburst, prompted by a call of “scumbag” from the public gallery. However, it came as no surprise to the 50 protesters who had turned out to object to “arrogant” plans to postpone local elections. Redditch council voted on Tuesday to rubber-stamp plans to postpone the elections during a chaotic meeting at which disgruntled constituents made their views clear. It was the only council in Worcestershire due to hold elections in May – with Labour’s majority at risk – but the public will now lose their chance to vote because of a looming restructure in local government. The protest had been organised by Emma Marshall, 45, a former Conservative councillor who was planning to stand in the election. She said she was aware that Reform UK was expected to poll better than her party, and that she was concerned about democratic rights rather than party politics.
She said: “I am campaigning for the people to have the right to not vote for me, but people should have the chance to have their say. These councillors are hiding. “It’s about losing that majority control where they can just push through absolutely anything they want to and they’d have to actually work harder. There are exceptions to the rule – but my worry is that if we become used to year on year having elections cancelled it starts to become normal. “When you start using finances as an excuse it becomes an everyday occurrence. How do we ensure we don’t suddenly find cancelled elections all over the place including the general election? It’s a slippery slope.” “Saving money is not a valid reason, this is about democracy for the people. This will be the first election I won’t be voting – because I can’t.” While he was not up for election, voters will now not have a say on the council’s handling of other local issues. Housing, planning, failing high streets, trees and road sweeping were among the concerns of those who turned out and were angry at not being allowed to vote. Steve Grinnell, 66, who used to work for a former builders merchant, said. “It’s ridiculous. Labour used to be for the working man now they are not. It’s arrogant. If you don’t support democracy you shouldn’t be in a job.” His wife Janet, 64, a dog walker, added: “It’s just not fair. We live here, I bet half of them don’t.”
