Twenty councils in England ask for election delays

Nearly a third of eligible councils in England have requested May elections be postponed, according to BBC research.

Last month ministers told 63 local authorities they would allow elections to be postponed if there were “genuine concerns” about holding them alongside the government’s overhaul of local government.

Twenty-one councils have asked for votes to be postponed until Thursday, while 34 councils have not done so and eight councils have yet to confirm their positions.

Ministers are expected to approve the requests in the coming days.

The government’s local government regime will replace the existing two-tier system of district and county councils in many parts of England with new ‘unitary’ councils responsible for the provision of all council services in their area.

This means some councils up for election this year will split into new unitary councils in 2027 or 2028, meaning councilors may only hold office for one year.

The BBC contacted the 63 councils that could ask for the May election to be postponed to get their decision.

Those who have said they will seek a postponement include East and West Sussex County Councils, Suffolk County Council, Exeter City Council, Preston City Council and Peterborough City Council.

Other smaller councils asking for a delay include Cheltenham, Hastings, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Ipswich and Redditch Borough Councils.

Most of those calling for a delay are led by Labour, but three are led by the Conservatives and one is led by the Liberal Democrats. Some councils that requested the postponement are led by more than one party or independents.

Ministers say the local council reorganization will be the biggest in a generation, eliminating duplication and simplifying local government.

Writing for The Times, Local Government Minister Steve Reed said: “Holding a series of elections to short-lived zombie councils would be costly, time-consuming and would take scarce resources away from frontline services such as pothole repairs and social care.”

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats criticized Labour’s decision to allow the election to be postponed, with Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice telling the BBC that officials calling for a delay were “appalled” that his party would win.

The Conservative shadow local government secretary has accused Labor of being “afraid of voters” as the government struggles at the polls.

“We are clear that these elections must be held. Ministers must treat voters with respect rather than belittle them, stop undermining our democratic system and allow the people of this country to make their own decisions.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who had previously suggested postponing the election violated human rightsHe called for changes to the law so that “ministers cannot postpone elections with the stroke of a pen”.

He said: “Both Labor and the Conservatives are afraid of voters and allow councilors to serve up to seven years without a democratic mandate.”

Despite their party’s official positions, the Conservative leaders of Suffolk, West Sussex and East Sussex County Councils and the Liberal Democrats were in control. Cheltenham District Council He is among those who want a delay.

Protests against the postponement decision broke out in some councils. the police called to a meeting in Redditch, where Worcestershire’s Labour-run county council was discussing the request for a postponement.

Some councils have not yet announced their decisions.

The Conservative leader of Essex County Council has told the government there is “huge pressure on our systems” alongside planned restructuring.

However, he said it was up to the government whether this year’s elections would be held and that he would not call for a postponement.