Local elections delayed in nine areas amid council reforms
Local elections in East Sussex, West Sussex, Essex, Thurrock, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Surrey will be postponed for a year to accommodate major council reorganizations, Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner has announced. Addressing Parliament, Rayner stated that the delay was necessary to facilitate a “generational power shift from Whitehall to the town hall” as part of broader devolution plans.
The government’s restructuring plan involves merging smaller district councils with local county councils to create unitary authorities, each representing approximately 500,000 residents. Rayner argued that holding elections for councils that are set to be abolished would be an unnecessary financial burden and an “irresponsible waste of taxpayers’ money.”
However, the decision has triggered controversy, with Conservative shadow minister Kevin Hollinrake expressing concerns over the large-scale postponement, calling it a troubling development for democracy. Opposition parties and several local leaders have also criticized the move, arguing that it prioritizes political interests over public benefit.
Alongside the restructuring, Rayner announced plans to introduce new devolution arrangements, granting more areas in England the power to elect mayors with authority over housing, transport, and local development. Six new devolution areas have been earmarked for mayoral elections in May 2026, including Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Greater Essex, Hampshire and Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton.
Rayner emphasized to MPs that the selected areas would receive priority status for driving significant local change under the new policy. She highlighted that devolution is designed to empower communities by delivering direct economic benefits, such as improved local transport systems, more effective infrastructure planning, and decision-making processes that better reflect the needs of residents.
The decision to delay the elections has been met with strong criticism from opposition parties and some local council leaders. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey condemned the move as a “disgraceful stitch-up between Labour and the Conservatives,” alleging that it is an attempt to prevent voters from holding failing councils accountable. He suggested that Tory-run councils feared significant losses in the upcoming elections, particularly after the Liberal Democrats made significant gains against the Conservatives in the general election.
Meanwhile, Reform UK has launched a petition against the postponement, with leader Nigel Farage accusing Labour and the Conservatives of colluding to “officially cancel over 5.5 million votes in May.” The party claims that the decision undermines the democratic process and prevents residents from having a say in the governance of their local areas.
Some councils that requested election delays but were denied have reacted angrily to Rayner’s announcement. The leaders of Kent and Medway councils, Roger Gough and Vince Maple, expressed frustration over the rejection of their request, calling the reasoning behind the decision “both confusing and insufficient.” They have vowed to seek further clarification from government ministers.
Rayner defended the decision, stating that she had only granted delays where they were integral to the government’s devolution manifesto commitments. “We’re not in the business of holding elections to bodies that won’t exist and where we don’t know what will replace them,” she said.
As the debate continues, the delay in elections is likely to remain a contentious issue, with political parties and local authorities closely monitoring the government’s next steps in reshaping local governance.