Local elections scheduled for May have been postponed in 29 council areas across England, affecting nearly half of the authorities where voters were due to cast their ballots. Local Government Secretary Steve Reed confirmed the delay, with elections now pushed back until 2027.
Government Confirms Major Election Postponement
Steve Reed, the Local Government Secretary, has officially announced that 29 councils in England will no longer hold elections on May 7 as originally planned. This decision comes after more than 350 representations were made to the Government by authorities expressing concerns about the impact of a major local government shake-up on their ability to conduct these elections effectively.
The planned reforms would eliminate the current two-tier system of local government that operates throughout much of England, where district and county councils share responsibilities within the same geographical areas. This system will be replaced with a streamlined structure of single-tier "unitary" authorities designed to create more efficient local governance.
Affected Councils and Extended Terms
The postponement affects a diverse range of councils across England. City councils in Lincoln, Exeter, Norwich, Peterborough and Preston are among those where votes will not take place on the originally scheduled date. Several district councils are also impacted, including Cannock Chase, Harlow, Welwyn Hatfield and West Lancashire.
County council elections have also been postponed in East Sussex, West Sussex, Norfolk and Suffolk. In these areas, councillors' terms will be extended to accommodate the delay. However, elections will proceed after a one-year postponement for voters in some regions, including those electing councillors to Essex County Council, Hampshire County Council and the Isle of Wight Council.
Political Reactions and Democratic Concerns
The decision has sparked criticism from some quarters, with opponents accusing the Government of disenfranchising millions of voters by cancelling scheduled elections. Steve Reed responded directly to these criticisms, stating: "To those who say we've cancelled all the elections, we haven't. To those who say it's all Labour councils, it isn't."
Reed defended the decision as necessary for implementing reforms that would make local government more effective in serving the public. He emphasised: "I've asked, I've listened, and I've acted. No messing about, no playing politics, just getting on with the job of making local government work better for local people."
Democratic Principles Under Scrutiny
Darren Hughes, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, expressed concern about the postponement, stating: "Elections are the key pillar of our representative democracy and should not be dismissed as a bureaucratic inconvenience. It is concerning that elections could be seen as something that detracts from councils' roles, rather than the vital mandate local politicians need to make decisions for the residents they serve."
The minister clarified that the majority of local elections across England will proceed as scheduled. Of the 136 local elections originally planned for May across England, most will go ahead without disruption. Reed noted that many councils offered no evidence that the reorganisation would delay elections in their areas.
Complete List of Affected Councils
The following councils will see their elections postponed until 2027:
- Adur District Council
- Basildon Borough Council
- Blackburn with Darwen Council
- Burnley Borough Council
- Cannock Chase District Council
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Chorley Borough Council
- City of Lincoln Council
- Crawley Borough Council
- East Sussex County Council
- Exeter City Council
- Harlow District Council
- Hastings Borough Council
- Hyndburn Borough Council
- Ipswich Borough Council
- Norfolk County Council
- Norwich City Council
- Peterborough City Council
- Preston City Council
- Redditch Borough Council
- Rugby Borough Council
- Stevenage Borough Council
- Suffolk County Council
- Tamworth Borough Council
- Thurrock Council
- Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
- West Lancashire Borough Council
- West Sussex County Council
- Worthing Borough Council
The Government's decision represents a significant disruption to the electoral calendar in affected areas, with implications for local democracy and governance structures across England. The postponement allows time for the implementation of the unitary authority system, which officials argue will ultimately create more efficient and responsive local government.
