Millions Affected as Local Council Elections Set to Be Delayed
More than a third of eligible councils in England have requested to postpone their May elections, affecting more than 2.5 million voters.
The government is implementing a major overhaul of the local government structure.
Twenty-four councils want to postpone their elections to help complete this reorganization – but opposition parties say the Labour Party is "afraid" of voters.
Most of those seeking a delay are Labour-led, but two are Conservative-led and one is Liberal Democrat. Some councils that have requested a delay are run by multiple parties or independents.
Last month, ministers told 63 local authorities that they would approve a delay if there were "genuine concerns" about holding elections alongside the government's changes to local government.
Ministers are expected to approve these requests in the coming days.
The government's changes to local government will replace the two-tier system of district and county councils in many parts of England with new 'unitary' councils, which will be responsible for providing all council services in their area.
This means that some councils contesting elections this year will join the new unitary councils in 2027 or 2028, so councillors can only hold office for one year.
Ministers say their reorganization of local councils will be the largest in a generation, eliminating duplication and simplifying local government.
Writing for The Times, Local Government Secretary Steve Reed said: "Holding elections for zombie councils in a short period of time would be expensive, time-consuming, and take precious resources away from front-line services like pothole repair and social care."
Both the Conservatives and Lib Dems have criticized Labour's decision to allow the election to be postponed, while Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, said that the authorities who wanted the delay were "scared" that his party would win.
The Conservative Shadow Local Government Secretary accused Labour of "fearing voters" while the government is struggling in the polls. He added, "We believe these elections should take place. Ministers should treat voters with respect rather than hatred, stop undermining our democratic system, and let the people of this country make their own decisions."
Council Opposition
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who previously suggested that delaying elections was a violation of human rights, called for a change in the law so that "ministers cannot simply delay elections with the stroke of a pen."
He said: "Both Labour and Conservatives are afraid of voters, allowing councillors to serve seven-year terms without any democratic mandate."
Despite their parties' official stances, the Conservative leaders of West Sussex and East Sussex County Councils, and the Liberal Democrat-controlled Cheltenham Borough Council, are among those requesting delays.
Decisions to seek delays have led to protests at some councils, with police called to a meeting in Redditch where the Labour-run district council in Worcestershire discussed requesting a postponement.
Some councils have not yet announced their decisions.
The Conservative leader of Essex County Council told the government that "there is too much pressure on our system" in addition to the planned reorganization.
But he said whether elections will be held this year is up to the government, and said he would not seek a delay.
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