Statement on upcoming local elections

I welcome the Government’s confirmation that the upcoming local elections in Gloucestershire will proceed as planned and firmly reject the attempts by the Conservative-run County Council to delay the vote.

The Conservative-led Gloucestershire County Council proposed postponing the elections, but I strongly opposed this, insisting that they should go ahead as scheduled in May 2025. The calls for a delay are, in my view, nothing more than a desperate attempt by Conservative councillors to avoid accountability for their record in office. They are fully aware that they are on the losing side due to their significant failures over the years. Their neglect has allowed critical issues, such as potholes damaging our roads, the decline of local transport infrastructure, and persistent failures in children’s social services and education, to go unaddressed.

The National Audit Office has highlighted that children in the Forest of Dean have the highest percentage of Special Educational Needs in all of Gloucestershire, yet no strategy has been implemented locally to support these children.

It is clear that the Conservative leadership seeks to delay the elections to avoid facing the consequences of their actions. However, the people of the Forest of Dean and Gloucestershire are ready for change, and the elections in May present an opportunity for that change.

Furthermore, the Conservative leadership attempted to use party politics to delay the elections by suggesting that the county was prepared to transition into a unitary authority. This claim was never substantiated and only serves to underscore their desperation to retain control.

The County Council has not been working in the best interests of the people of the Forest of Dean, and this has been evident for many years. I am committed to working with both the County Council and the Government to establish a devolution agreement that benefits my constituents, ensuring they are no longer the forgotten neighbour and that they have a meaningful voice in local governance. I encourage all constituents to contact me with their thoughts and ideas on devolution; all perspectives will be given careful consideration.