Merton Labour Attempts to Stifle Opposition in Council Power Grab

Labour Council bosses in Merton have launched an "assault on democracy" by forcing through new rules designed to shut down opposition voices and evade public scrutiny, opposition councillors say.

This shocking move comes as it becomes increasingly apparent Merton Labour may lose the 2026 local elections.

The Labour political administration has changed rules to reduce the ability of elected councillors to ask questions on the public record and to debate matters that matter to residents when trying to change Council policy.

The draconian new rules:

• Limit accountability on key issues by halving the number of questions to Cabinet Members.
   
• Reduce the publication of key information on the administration's performance and whether it's meeting its own promises, by abolishing 'strategic theme reports' and questions.
   
• Stifle debate on issues residents care about by limiting opposition motions. For smaller groups – like the Conservatives – that's to fewer than one a meeting. Independent councillors will rarely, if ever be able to propose motions.
   
• Gag minority political opinions. Again, smaller groups – like the Conservatives – will see their speaking time in debates limited.
   
• Rig the rule's in Labour's favour by fixing it so that Labour councillors get more speaking time in debates, and giving the Labour Leader of the Council unlimited interventions.

In ways that can only be described as 'Orwellian', Labour councillors oddly explained these are "improvements" that "future proof" Council meetings.

At the latest Full Council meeting on 2 April, Liberal Democrat, Conservative, Merton Park Residents Association and independent councillors united against these blatant power grabs. They tabled an amendment to block Labour's undemocratic rules changes – but every Labour councillor voted to shut it down.

This latest attack on accountability follows Labour's decision in February to weaken the 'call-in' process, making it harder for opposition parties to request cross-party scrutiny of decisions. Labour also previously changed Council rules to stop councillors from helping residents that contacted them from outside their own wards, further undermining representation in Merton.

Commenting after the meeting, Cllr Anthony Fairclough, Leader of the Merton Liberal Democrats, said:

"Labour Council bosses seem terrified of public scrutiny, so they're trying to silence the opposition and cover up bad news. These changes make it harder for councillors to do what we were elected to do – standing up for residents and challenging decisions.

"At the heart of the cross-party amendment was the idea that the right of councillors to stand up for their residents and bring up issues on their behalf should only be significantly changed by cross-party consensus. But Labour rejected that principle.

"If Labour was confident in its leadership, it wouldn't need to rig the rules in its favour. But instead, they are using these underhand tactics to dodge accountability.

"This is a disgraceful power grab, and residents should be furious. Democracy in Merton is under threat – and we won't stop fighting to defend it.

Notes to Editors:

The Constitutional rule changes proposed by Labour are at Agenda Item 13.

The cross-party amendment can be found on the penultimate page of this PDF.

The full Council meeting can be watched here. The relevant debate starts at 1:54:49. The Liberal Democrat speakers are Cllr Robert Page (proposing the amendment at 1:58:52), and Cllr Anthony Fairclough (at 2:05:24).