Keir Starmer ignites bitter war of words with Nigel Farage | Politics | News

But it came just hours after Labor was accused of “election fraud” after delaying the vote for powerful new regional mayors.

Local Government Minister Steve Reed has postponed elections in four regions until 2028, although candidates have been selected and campaigning continues for next May’s elections.

Critics accused the Government of being cowering for fear of a series of humiliating losses, and analysis of the latest poll by the website Electoral Calculus found Reform UK was the party most likely to win all four elections.

Areas where mayoral votes are delayed include Greater Essex, Norfolk & Suffolk, Hampshire & the Solent and Sussex & Brighton.

Reform leader Nigel Farage said: “The government is basically committing election fraud on voters.

“This just shows this country’s absolute and utter disdain for freedom, democracy and liberty.”

Mr Farage added: “There’s actually no good reason why these elections shouldn’t be held. But of course there’s a huge reason why these elections shouldn’t be held and there’s no prize to be estimated.”

“The Electoral Account put out their predictions an hour ago that Reform would win all four of these contests and win them quite comfortably.

“The government is essentially committing electoral fraud against voters who had every opportunity to put Reform mayors into office.”

Speaking in a campaign video, the Reform UK leader highlighted that almost one in three students in the city speak English as a second language, describing it as “Glasgow’s cultural collapse”.

He added that it was unfair to taxpayers that “people like this are coming to Britain illegally” and that his party would make it a “really big issue” at next year’s election.