Ministers announced some 63 council areas could opt to postpone elections until 2027 – after some were already delayed for a year – as the government shakes-up town halls
Millions could see local elections in their area in May delayed again under a shake-up of local government.
Ministers announced on Thursday some 63 council areas could opt to postpone elections until 2027 – after some were already delayed for a year. It comes as the government reorganises some town halls by scrapping some two-tiered councils to cover larger areas in a drive to improve services.
Local government minister Alison McGovern told the Commons she had heard from some areas they do not have the capacity required for the reorganisation during the current time frame.
She told MPs: “We have listened to councils who’ve told us of the challenges they face reorganising while preparing for resource-intensive elections for areas which may shortly be abolished. Several have submitted requests to postpone elections so it is therefore right we let them have their say so they can focus their time and energy on providing vital services while planning for reorganisation.”
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has described two-tier authorities as “wasteful”, with reorganisation cutting the number of councillors and bringing services such as housing, planning and roads under one roof. It said there are 204 councils across 21 areas undergoing reorganisation, with 63 of these councils scheduled to hold elections in May 2026.
They have been invited to set out their views – including on delaying elections in May – with a deadline of 15 January. Some councils may decide to press ahead with votes in May.
Tory minister Paul Holmes accused the government of taking the decision as it was afraid of fighting elections ahead of a difficult set of votes in May. Ms McGovern replied: “The position on elections is as it has always been, is that the starting point remains that elections go ahead unless there is a strong justification.”
Labour chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee Florence Eshalomi said she was unhappy with the timing of the announcement on the final day before recess, when some MPs have travelled back to their constituencies. She said: “This an issue of grave importance to so many members right across this chamber, many of them will not be here today to be able to raise their concerns with the minister.”
Full list of areas that could opt to delay elections
Adur District Council
Basildon Borough Council
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Blackburn with Darwen Council
Brentwood Borough Council
Broxbourne Borough Council
Burnley Borough Council
Cambridge City Council
Cannock Chase District Council
Cheltenham Borough Council
Cherwell District Council
Chorley Borough Council
City of Lincoln Council
Colchester City Council
Crawley Borough Council
East Sussex County Council
Eastleigh Borough Council
Epping Forest District Council
Essex County Council
Exeter City Council
Fareham Borough Council
Gosport Borough Council
Hampshire County Council
Harlow District Council
Hart District Council
Hastings Borough Council
Havant Borough Council
Huntingdonshire District Council
Hyndburn Borough Council
Ipswich Borough Council
Isle of Wight Council
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Norfolk County Council
North East Lincolnshire Council
Norwich City Council
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
Oxford City Council
Pendle Borough Council
Peterborough City Council
Plymouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council
Preston City Council
Redditch Borough Council
Rochford District Council
Rugby Borough Council
Rushmoor Borough Council
South Cambridgeshire District Council
Southampton City Council
Southend-on-Sea City Council
St Albans City and District Council
Stevenage Borough Council
Suffolk County Council;
Tamworth Borough Council
Three Rivers District Council
Thurrock Council
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Watford Borough Council
Watford Borough Council Mayor
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
West Lancashire Borough Council
West Oxfordshire District Council
West Sussex County Council
Winchester City Council
Worthing Borough Council