A POTENTIALLY embarrassing difference of opinion has emerged between the Labour leader of Thurrock Council and two of her senior colleagues in the authority's cabinet.

At a recent full council meeting, its leader Cllr Lynn Worrall said all 49 council seats will be contested in May's local elections, according to information received from the government.

And proposed boundary changes will be implemented.

During the meeting Cllr Worrall was asked to confirm if an all-out election would be held in May ahead of any local government reorganisation. She was also asked to confirm if proposed boundary changes would be implemented for the local elections.

Despite fears the Government could yet step in to postpone the elections ahead of devolution and local government reorganisation, Cllr Worrell said: "Elections are scheduled to take place in May 2026, and the Labour administration is already preparing for these.

"If the elections do go ahead, all 49, and it is it's not been announced yet, there's been no formal announcement that there will be all out elections, they will go ahead on the new boundaries."

However, her advice to residents appears to conflict with a social media post from two of her senior cabinet members.

Cllrs Vikki Hartstean and Lynda Heath were pictured alongside a statement that said: "Proposed boundary changes for North Stifford "will no longer be going ahead. Ward changes are no longer be going ahead, so Lynds and I are going nowhere."

The difference between leading councillors has been seized upon by opposition councillors.

Conservative activist and former Tory cabinet member Adam Carter was quick to seize on the difference of opinion, saying: "If boundary changes are indeed cancelled, the only likely explanation would be the suspension or cancellation of next year's local elections — a drastic and unprecedented move that the Cabinet has no authority to make and flies directly in the face of what they have previously given as answers publicly.

"Cllr Hartstean has stated that proposed boundary changes for North Stifford "will no longer be going ahead" — an announcement that appears to suggest a fundamental alteration to the democratic process in Thurrock has occurred behind closed doors.

"If boundary changes are indeed cancelled, the only likely explanation would be the suspension or cancellation of next year's local.

"This revelation, made casually in a Facebook post, is deeply troubling. It raises pressing questions.

"These decisions go to the very heart of local democracy. Residents deserve to choose their representatives in open, competitive elections — not to have outcomes quietly stitched up in backroom deals by senior Labour councillors.

"If Cllr Hartstean is correct, and boundary changes — which would have placed North Stifford into the Stifford Clays ward — are off the table, the only way this is possible would be with elections in 2026 cancelled.

"Residents have a right to know why, and how, such a decision was reached."

Also see:

https://thurrock.nub.news/news/local-news/mayor-election-confirmed-and-it-seems-likely-all-49-council-seats-in-thurock-will-be-up-for-grabs-too-266385