Green MP Siân Berry said expense “should never be used as an excuse” to delay democracy during a debate on local government re-organisation on ITV Meridian. Sian added: “There is a good argument for a devolution of powers down to a local level but this reorganisation will put a lot of powers higher up – take it away from the districts and boroughs – and introduce these super large councils. Delaying elections that are due this year in order to make that happen quicker isn’t the right answer. We need to do this carefully, we need to have a democratic mandate for it and that means going ahead with [May’s local elections].” Watch the full programme here.