Millions of people to see their local council elections delayed
More than a third of eligible councils in England have asked to postpone their elections, which is expected to take place in May. 5 million voters. The government is undergoing significant reforms of local government agencies. Twenty-three councils want to postpone their votes in order to facilitate the reorganisation, but opposition parties claim Labour is running scared
of voters. The majority of those wanting a delay are Labour-led, but two of them are Conservative-led and one is Liberal Democrat. More than one party, or independents, are in charge of any of the councils that have asked for a postponement.
Last month, ministers told 63 local authorities that if there were genuine reservations
about releasing them alongside the government's reform of local government, they would authorize delays to the elections. So far, 23 have requested a postponement, 33 have not, and seven have yet to announce their position. With the hope that they will take place in 2027, elections will be postponed for a year. In the coming days, ministers are expected to accept the requests. The BBC contacted the 63 councils who may have requested a postponement of their May elections to ask for their decision.
The government's rejig of local government will replace the two-tier system of district and county councils that exist in several areas of England with new 'unitary' councils, which are responsible for all council services in their region. It means that some of the councils up for re-election this year will be split into new unitary councils in 2027 or 2028, so councillors could only be in office for a year. Ministers estimate that the reorganisation of local council would be the biggest in a generation, removing duplication and simplifying local government. Local Government Secretary Steve Reed said in a piece for the Times,
Both the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have both condemned Labour's decision to postpone elections, while reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice told the BBC that authorities wanting a postponement of elections wererunning a series of elections for short-lived zombie councils will be costly, time-consuming, and would take precious funds away from front-line services such as fixing pot holes and social care.
terrifiedhis party would win. With the government struggling in the polls, a Conservative shadow local government minister accused Labour of
running scared of voters.We're certain that these elections will take place. Ministers should treat voters with respect rather than disdain, stop undermining our political system, and allow the people of this country to make their own decisions," he said.
Council protests
Sir Ed Davey, a Liberal Democrat who has previously suggested delaying electionsbreached human rights, has called for a reform in the legislation so that
Both Labour and the Conservatives are afraid of the millennial vote,ministers cannot simply postpone elections at the stroke of a pen.
Despite their official positions, the Conservative leaders of West Sussex, East Sussex County Councils, and the Liberal-Democrat-ledCheltenham Borough Council are among those who have requested a postponement. Protesters erupted at some councils over the decision to request a postponement, withpolice leading to a meeting in Redditch, Worcestershire, where the Labour-run district council was discussing a request for a posting. Any councils have yet to announce their decision. On top of the proposed restructure, the Conservative leader of Essex County Council told the government that there was "huge strain on our systems. However, he said it was up to the government if this year's polls went forward, and that he would not call for a postponement. Here is a complete list of councils that have indicated that they intend to postpone their elections. Subscribe to our Politics Essential newsletter to stay up to date with Westminster's inner workings and beyond.he said, allowing councillors to serve terms of up to seven years without having a democratic mandate.
