Blackburn Council Boss Accused of Stifling Democracy Amid Election Concerns

Blackburn: During a recent council meeting, Cllr John Slater confronted Cllr Phil Riley. He raised concerns about local elections and devolution plans. This came after MP Andy MacNae warned that upcoming elections could delay important government changes.

Cllr Slater pointed out that Blackburn with Darwen has no borough elections this year. He asked Cllr Riley if he could assure residents that local elections would happen in 2026, 2027, and 2028. Cllr Riley responded that he couldn’t guarantee that.

Cllr Riley explained that the future of local governance is uncertain. He mentioned that by 2027, they might be voting for a different authority. He also questioned why only a few Conservative councils are holding elections this year, given the high costs involved.

After the meeting, Cllr Slater accused Cllr Riley of using devolution as an excuse to limit democracy. He believes Cllr Riley fears losing control to the opposing party. In reply, Cllr Riley stated that the question about future elections is premature and depends on many developments.