General · 17 February 2026
Labour minister faces bullying claims after local election u-turn
Local Government Minister Steve Reed has been accused of bullying behaviour by a senior council leader following a government reversal on election delays. Kay Mason Billig, leader of Norfolk County Council, claims Reed used back channels to threaten withholding devolution funds unless her authority agreed to postpone upcoming polls. The allegations emerged after ministers admitted that plans to delay elections in thirty council areas were unlawful and subsequently abandoned the proposal.
Reported by gbnews.com · How we write briefs