Just under half of the eligible councils in England have requested a postponement of their elections scheduled for May, affecting millions of voters.
The government is currently undertaking a significant restructuring of local government frameworks.
Twenty-eight councils are seeking to defer their ballots to facilitate this reorganisation; however, opposition parties allege that Labour is “running scared” of the electorate.
The majority of those requesting a delay are Labour-led, though three are Conservative-led and one is Liberal Democrat. Several councils seeking postponement are governed by multiple parties or independent representatives.
Last month, government ministers informed 63 local authorities that they would authorise delays to the polls if there were “genuine concerns” regarding their ability to conduct them alongside the government’s local government overhaul.
In total, 28 councils have formally requested a delay, while 35 have not.
Elections would be postponed for a year, with the expectation that they would then take place in 2027.
Ministers are expected to approve these requests in the coming days.
Reform UK is pursuing legal action against the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in response to the plans.
According to a court order published on Friday, Justice Chamberlain stated that Reform UK is seeking a temporary injunction to prevent the government from altering the date of the forthcoming elections, pending a full legal challenge hearing.
The judge indicated that the decision on whether to grant a temporary block would be made at a hearing on Tuesday.
The government’s local government restructuring will replace the two-tier system of district and county councils, prevalent in many parts of England, with new ‘unitary’ councils responsible for providing all council services within their respective areas.
This implies that some councils scheduled for election this year will be integrated into new unitary councils in 2027 or 2028, potentially resulting in councillors serving only a one-year term.
Government ministers assert that their reorganisation of local councils represents the most substantial in a generation, eliminating duplication and streamlining local government.
Writing in The Times, Local Government Secretary Steve Reed stated: “Conducting a series of elections for short-lived zombie councils would be costly, time-consuming, and divert scarce resources from essential front-line services like pothole repair and social care.”
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have both criticised Labour’s decision to permit election postponements, while Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice told the BBC that authorities seeking a delay were “terrified” of his party’s potential success.
Conservative Shadow Local Government Secretary Sir James Cleverley accused Labour of “running scared of voters,” given the government’s current struggles in the polls.
“We firmly believe that these elections should proceed as scheduled. Ministers should treat voters with respect rather than disdain, refrain from undermining our democratic system, and allow the people of this country to make their own decisions,” he added.
Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey, who has previously suggested delaying elections breached human rights, called for a legal amendment to prevent “ministers from unilaterally delaying elections.”
He stated: “Both Labour and the Conservatives are fearful of the electorate, allowing councillors to serve terms of up to seven years without a democratic mandate.”
Despite their parties’ official stances, the Conservative leaders of West Sussex and East Sussex County Councils, along with the Liberal Democrat-controlled Cheltenham Borough Council, are among those requesting a delay.
Protests erupted at some council meetings over decisions to request a delay, with police called to a meeting in Redditch, where the Labour-run district council in Worcestershire discussed seeking a postponement.
Some councils have yet to announce their decision.
The Conservative leader of Essex County Council informed the government that there was “huge strain on our systems” in addition to the planned restructure.
However, he stated that the decision on whether this year’s elections would proceed rested with the government and affirmed that he would not call for a delay.
The leader of West Lancashire Borough Council has requested the cancellation of the local elections in her capacity as Labour group leader, but the authority itself has not made such a call.
Here is the full list of councils which have asked to postpone their elections.
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