English democracy relies on local councillors. So why are so many facing the axe? | Polly Toynbee

The article discusses the government's plans to merge local councils in England, which may result in the axing of a significant number of local councillors, up to 90% according to some estimates. The author, Polly Toynbee, argues that this move is happening without much public awareness or discussion, even though local councillors are essential for maintaining a functioning democracy. The article notes that the government's plans do not appear to have been part of their election manifesto, and the local government secretary's recent speech did not mention them either. Toynbee suggests that the government is pandering to the general public's scorn for politics by boasting about reducing the number of local politicians, despite the fact that voters trust councillors twice as much as Westminster politicians. The author questions the reasoning behind this council reorganization, arguing that it may not save money and does nothing to address the real problems faced by local authorities. Toynbee emphasizes the importance of local councillors in maintaining a healthy democracy and calls for more public awareness and debate on this issue.