The saying goes turkeys don’t vote for Christmas.

But given the chance of scrapping local elections or letting voters decide, Whitehill & Bordon Community Party leader Cllr Andy Tree is not for steering.

He said: “When it came to the vote about postponing the election I just could not in good conscience deny the public of Whitehill, Bordon, Lindford and Hampshire the right to vote.”

Cllr Tree’s comments were made after Hampshire County Council voted to press ahead with a fast-track devolution bid – and request the postponement of May’s local elections.

Voting went on party lines with the ruling Tories and Labour backing the postponement, with Cllr Tree and the Liberal Democrats – who labelled the move a “dark day for democracy”– going against.

It’s looking increasingly unlikely elections will take place as half of county councils in England are looking to postpone with the likes of Hampshire and Surrey among them.

Cllr Tree supports the idea of devolution and local government reform, but not the possibility of denying the people of Hampshire and W&B the right to vote, even if it means guaranteeing a seat at the HCC table until 2027.

Some see cancelling the election as “the price to pay” for Hampshire being an early proponent of the new-look local government structure.

But there are claims the move to postpone elections is also political, as the Conservatives will remain in control of HCC if no election takes place in May.

Cllr Tree said: “I can see the benefits of creating an accountable 'Mayor of Hampshire' and Combined Authority with powers and funds being received from central government ASAP.

“But it is possible the government will reject the request for fast-track devolution and the request to cancel the election that goes with it. We should know by the end of January.”