Protest by-elections branded a 'waste of money'

The leader of a council where elections have been postponed said members who triggered by-elections in protest at the move would be wasting taxpayers' money.

This week, four members of Norfolk County Council have said they have – or will – quit the authority.

Two of them said they planned to step down and seek re-election.

But the council's Conservative leader, Kay Mason Billig, said it was a waste of money "to try to score a political point", with each by-election costing about £25,000 to hold.

Last week, the government said it would put back the council's elections for a year, to allow more time for the reorganisation of local authorities.

The move was particularly controversial as voting had already been delayed by 12 months in Norfolk.

Earlier this week, Independent Simon Ring became the first member of the authority to say he intended to resign his seat in King's Lynn.

He said people should be allowed to exercise their "democratic right to choose".

Since then, the Independent Progressive group's Emma Corlett and Maxine Webb said they would quit their seats in Norwich.

"It is untenable to continue so I will be stepping down at the appropriate time to ensure there is an election," said Corlett, who will not be standing again.

She accused the Conservatives and Labour of "shutting down debate" in the council chamber over elections.

Webb said that when a by-election takes place for Corlett's Town Close seat, she would be aiming to win it, but for the Green Party.

Their announcements were followed by Conservative Ed Connolly, who said he had quit his Yare and All Saints seat with immediate effect.

"At the very least this will ensure the residents within Yare and All Saints are able to vote for a democratically elected county councillor," he said.

"I will not be standing as a candidate in the by-election."

Mason Billig insisted there was no animosity over Connolly's departure as he "was stepping down anyway".

She added she expected others to quit for various personal reasons, but took aim at those choosing to step down and stand again.

"Each by-election costs approximately £25,000 – it's a waste of taxpayers money just to try to score a political point," she said.

While Mason Billig has called the government's decision to postpone elections "the right one", most of the council's opposition groups have been critical.

Liberal Democrats, Greens and Reform UK have accused her of "running scared" and said voting should take place.

However, Labour group leader Steve Morphew said local government reorganisation required "a vast amount of work" and he "would choose getting on with setting up the new system so people get a meaningful vote as soon as possible".

A council spokesperson said it was too early to say when any of the by-elections would place.

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