09/05/2025
đ€« Labour and Lib Dems to Silence Milton Keynes Residents đ€«
Conservative Press Release:
Milton Keynes Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors are set to push through sweeping constitutional changes that strip residents and parish councils of their right to challenge council decisions.
Current council rules allow any two councillors, the chair or clerk of any Parish or Town Council or any 20 residents of Milton Keynes to 'call-in' a decision by the council within a period of 5 days of that decision being published.
But on Wednesday 14 May, the Labour controlled council will force through constitutional changes that remove that scrutiny and they will be backed by the Liberal Democrats. The process will now require either 10% of all councillors or 40% of the relevant scrutiny committeeâa threshold virtually impossible for smaller groups or independents to meet.
With just one Conservative councillor on each scrutiny committee, and Labour and Lib Dems holding the majority, this change effectively shuts out the opposition and removes residentsâ voices from the room. It also removes any option for parish councils or residents to call-in a council decision.
âThis is a power grab â plain and simple," said Cllr Shazna Muzammil, Leader of the Conservative Group
âIt's a calculated attempt to silence the voices of residents and parish councils. Itâs no surprise that Labour and the Lib Dems are working together againâtheyâve run this Council in partnership before, and after the recent election results across the country, it looks like theyâre closing ranks and running scared of being held to account.
The timing of this power shift is no coincidence. In the past six months alone, the Conservative Group has brought several serious issues into public view, including one call in meeting where over 100 residents filled the chamber to challenge the administrationâs flawed âvisionâ for the city.
âThat day was democracy in action,â Cllr Muzammil continued âYesâit took officer time. It took councillors time, and over 100 residents gave up their evening to be there. But thatâs what democracy is supposed to be aboutâpeople showing up and being heard.â
"Weâre elected to serve our residents. It canât just be about asking for their vote every single election year, then shutting the door on them when decisions are being made. This Council exists to serve the peopleâand right now, Labour and the Lib Dems are failing our residents.
These constitutional changes silence the very people who put us here in the first place, and thatâs just plain wrong.â
