getty imagesMore than a third of eligible councils in England have asked to postpone their elections due in May, affecting more than 2.5 million voters.
The government is making large-scale changes to local government structures.
Twenty-three councils want to postpone their ballots to help with that restructure – but opposition parties say Labor is “scared” of voters.
Most of those seeking a delay are Labour-led, but two are Conservative-led and one is a Liberal Democrat. Some of the councils that have sought a delay are run by more than one party or independents.
Last month ministers told 63 local authorities they would allow a delay in elections if there were “genuine concerns” about the government holding elections alongside radical changes to local government.
So far, 23 have requested a delay, 33 have not and seven have yet to confirm their status.
The elections, expected to be held in 2027, will be postponed by a year.
The minister is expected to approve the requests in the coming days.
The BBC contacted the 63 councils that could request a delay to the elections in May for their decision.
The change of government in local government will replace the two-tier system of district and county councils that exists in many parts of England, with new ‘unitary’ councils that will be responsible for providing all council services in their area.
This means that some councils up for election this year will be converted into new unitary councils in 2027 or 2028, so councilors will only be able to hold office for one year.
Ministers say their restructuring of local councils will be the biggest in a generation, removing duplication and simplifying local government.
Writing for The Times, Local Government Secretary Steve Reid said: “Running a series of elections for short-term zombie councils would be expensive, time-consuming and would take scarce resources away from front-line services like fixing potholes and social care.”
Both the Conservatives and Lib Dems have criticized Labour’s decision to allow the election to be postponed, while Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, told the BBC that officials seeking a delay were “terrified” that his party would win.
The Conservative shadow local government secretary accused Labor of being “afraid of voters” as the government struggled in the polls.
He said, “We are clear that these elections must take place. Ministers must treat voters with respect rather than contempt, stop undermining our democratic system and let the people of this country make their own decisions.”
Council’s opposition
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who had previously suggested that delaying elections was a breach of human rights, called for a change in the law so that “ministers cannot delay elections at the stroke of a pen”.
He said: “Both Labor and the Conservatives are afraid of voters allowing councilors to serve up to seven years without a democratic mandate.”
Despite their parties’ official positions, the Conservative leaders of West Sussex and East Sussex County Council and the Liberal Democrat controlled Cheltenham Borough Council are among those requesting a delay.
Protests broke out in some councils over the decisions asking for a delay, with police calling a meeting in Redditch where the Labour-run district council in Worcestershire discussed asking for a postponement.
Some councils have not yet announced their decision.
The Conservative leader of Essex County Council told the government that there was “enormous pressure on our system” on top of the planned restructuring.
But he said it was up to the government whether elections would be held this year or not, and added that he would not ask for a delay.
Here is the full list of councils that have said they want to postpone their elections.
- Adoor Borough Council
- Basildon Borough Council
- Blackburn with Darwen Council
- Burnley Borough Council
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Chorley Borough Council
- Crawley Borough Council
- East Sussex County Council
- Exeter City Council
- Hastings Borough Council
- Hyndburn Borough Council
- Ipswich Borough Council
- Norwich City Council
- Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
- Pendle Borough Council
- Peterborough City Council
- Preston City Council
- Redditch Borough Council
- rugby borough council
- Stevenage Borough Council
- Thurrock Council
- West Sussex County Council
- Worthing Borough Council
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