Responding to government plans to delay key mayoral elections, Rachel Millward, Green Party deputy leader, said: 

“Labour’s whole devolution agenda has fallen into utter chaos. They’re running scared of the voters and failing to solve the real problems in local government.    

“They are failing to inspire voters and can’t delay democracy because they think they won’t like the outcome. 

“They’ve seen the Greens rise in the polls and have decided to cancel the voters rather than engage with the issues.  People in those areas have the right to vote for mayors the Government has promised them.  This weak Labour government is trying to cover up the fact the voters know they are offering no change and are just more of the same.”