The government has announced that local elections could once again be postponed due to concerns over the limited capacity of councils undergoing the merger process to manage restructuring effectively.
This statement prompted opposition parties to accuse the ruling Labour Party of “fearing the electorate.”
Under the plan, two-tier local government structures are set to be replaced with single-tier (unitary) councils. As part of this process, 63 council areas may opt to defer their elections until 2027.
It had also previously been announced that new mayoral elections in four regions have been postponed until 2028. Local Government Minister Alison McGovern stated that councils are concerned about having to manage the new restructuring process while simultaneously allocating resources to organise elections for authorities that are due to be abolished in the near future.
McGovern said that “running elections for bodies that will cease to exist shortly, only to hold another election a year later, is widely seen as a waste of time and effort.”
Opposition Reaction
Conservative Party: Shadow minister Paul Holmes likened the government to the “Grinch,” accusing the Labour Party of attempting to “steal” elections and of suspending democratic processes for its own political advantage. Shadow minister James Cleverly, meanwhile, said that Labour was afraid of facing voters and that the party had merely followed through on a commitment it made last week.
Liberal Democrats: Party leader Ed Davey described the move as a “Labour–Conservative stitch-up” designed to deny the public their right to vote.
Next Steps
Minister McGovern said that elections would go ahead in councils that do not seek a delay, but that requests for postponement would be considered in areas that have raised concerns. The 63 affected regions have been asked to submit their views by 15 January.