Former Conservative council leaders 'scathing' attack on Labour, as they bid to have election petition signed by over three million people brushed under the rug....
8th Jan 2025
The former Conservative leader of Hartlepool Borough Council has fiercely criticised Labour's decision to hold a debate on calls for a fresh general election in a Commons committee room rather than in Parliament itself, with the move slammed as an attempt to suppress voices demanding parliament be dissolved & a new election held. .
Labour stands accused of sidestepping a growing wave of public discontent, with critics claiming the government deliberately chose a less prominent venue to stifle debate on the petition, which has gained significant traction among Members of Parliament.
There's now Genuine Cause to Question Labour's Mandate...
The Labour government, elected with just 43% of the overall public vote, faces mounting accusations of lacking a credible mandate, amidst whats claimed to have been one of the lowest voter turn outs since World War One. Their tenure has been marked by a series of controversial U-turns on key issues, including cuts to winter fuel payments and the shelving of WASPI pension compensation payments. These policy reversals have sparked widespread claims of betrayal and fuelled demands for a new general election to be called following claims members of the public are beginning to question the confidence of the Labour Government to run the country.
Conservative Councillor Mike Young Speaks Out..
Hartlepool Conservative Councillor Mike Young, who led Hartlepool Borough Council until Labour regained control in May last year, condemned Labour’s handling of the petition debate. Writing on the Hartlepool Conservatives' website, he described the move as an affront to democracy
He Added:
“The UK witnessed an unprecedented show of public frustration when over 3 million residents signed a petition demanding a debate on the Labour Government’s disastrous first six months in office. With families feeling the pain of rising costs, local councils struggling under impossible financial burdens, and vital services stretched to breaking point, this petition was a clear call for accountability.”
Cllr. Young accused Labour of attempting to diluting the debate's significance by relegating it to a commons committee room, saying this choice undermined the voices of millions who supported the petition.
Criticism of Cllr. Young’s Track Record
However, Cllr. Young's criticism has been labelled as 'hypocritical' by some, where its claimed during his leadership of Hartlepool Borough Council back in 2023, he faced similar public outrage when nearly 4,000 residents signed a petition calling upon a public vote of no confidence in Hartlepool Borough Council. Critics point out that the petition was merely “noted” by councillors and quickly dismissed without further discussion, sparking accusations of the then Conservative / Independent council dismissing public sentiment.
Labour’s Struggles in Hartlepool just keep getting worse...
Labour’s return to power in Hartlepool has been far from smooth. The party is already said to be considering a council tax hike of nearly 5% in April 2025 to cover its massive budget overspending, despite opposing similar increases when in they were in opposition. This policy reversal is said to have further eroded public trust, adding to the fallout from national issues like the winter fuel payments cuts and the WASPI compensation debacle.
This discontent appears to be benefiting Reform UK rather than the Conservatives, with many predicting an electoral shakeup in the upcoming local elections that will see Labour 'knocked for six' in some Teesside boroughs...
The Jonathan Brash Effect
Jonathan Brash, a former Hartlepool councillor and current MP, has seen his support plummet in recent months. Despite being elected with just a meagre 46% of the vote, adding to what many claim is the governments lack of mandate by a clear lack of any majority support by voters.
Many constituents accuse him of failing to deliver on his promises. His supporters however argue he's performed better than his Conservative predecessor, Jill Mortimer, who made history by flipping Hartlepool’s “Red Wall” seat to the Tories back in 2021. Yet, the lingering dissatisfaction with national and local leadership leaves many feeling increasingly frustrated, with Issues such as immigration, housing shortages, rising council taxes, and increased crime all leaving Hartlepool residents feeling increasingly disconnected from the political elite, with many fearing the government’s failure to address public grievances such as the election petition could in turn lead to further public unrest, very much reminiscent of the protests seen in summer 2024.
Despite being voted into government with a supposed majority in the commons, Labours looking increasingly like its sitting as a minority government....
If Labour continues to ignore growing calls for a new election, it potentially risks deepening the divide between the government and the people it claims to serve fanning the flames of even more civil unrest in the months ahead. Hartlepool, like much of the country, is demanding change—and the petition for a fresh general election is only the beginning.