Responding to a U-turn on the cancellation of local elections in England, a Green Party spokesperson said:

“The cancellation of local elections in England was a disgraceful disregard of democracy by Labour. It was always about political self-interest and a fear of the electorate voting against this government and its inability to deliver anything but U-turns.

“It was also another sign of the disturbing authoritarian trend of a caretaker Prime Minister who has overseen moves to scrap jury trials, criminalise peaceful protest and ride roughshod over local planning laws.

“The by-election in Gorton and Denton is showing that support for this shambolic Labour government is in freefall. The old two party system has disintegrated, and the now reinstated local elections will – in many places across England – be between Reform UK and the Green Party.

“Voting is a right, not – as Labour seems to think – a privilege. People will now have their right to decide who should represent them in their local communities and who runs their Councils.”