Half of English county councils could ask to delay elections

The BBC has revealed that more than half of the English county councils scheduled to hold elections this year may seek to postpone the vote. Of the 21 county councils planning elections in May, at least 12 are preparing to ask ministers to delay the vote in order to study options presented in a major local government reform plan announced last December.

The government has set Friday as the deadline for regions to express interest in the first wave of devolution plans. However, the District Councils Network, representing smaller local authorities, stated that postponing the elections would leave millions of voters “denied local democracy.” The government has indicated that no decisions have been made yet. Elections are scheduled for May in 21 county council areas in England, as well as some unitary authorities and some regional mayors.

Last December, when announcing its devolution plans, the government suggested that some of these elections, particularly those for county councils, might be postponed for a year or more. The planned mayoral elections would not be affected. Under the plans announced by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, smaller district councils and larger county councils could merge to form unified authorities to handle all services. Ministers believe that local government restructuring is a key part of devolving power from Westminster to local communities.

Local Government Minister Jim McMahon has written to the affected councils asking them to express their interest in participating. Some councils are holding emergency meetings this week to decide whether to proceed. County councils that have indicated interest and may postpone elections include: Devon, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, and Worcestershire. The final decision on whether to postpone local elections will be made by ministers.

Councillor Kevin Bentley, the Conservative leader of Essex County Council, said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve things for Essex.” Councillor Tim Oliver, the Conservative leader of Surrey County Council, said: “It’s our duty to secure the best possible devolution deal for the residents of Surrey.” The May elections will be the first electoral test for the Labour Party since it came to power in Westminster last July and an important gauge of public sentiment.

Reform UK chairman Zia Yousaf criticized the potential delays, saying: “Both Labour and the Conservatives are so terrified of the rise of Reform that they are colluding to deny the British people their democratic rights.” Rayner told a select committee this week that it would be “absurd” to hold elections if councils were planning to restructure their structures. However, she also stated that the government was not “directing” what should happen in council areas.

In 2021, the previous Conservative government postponed elections in North Yorkshire, Cumbria, and Somerset when those councils were restructured. However, the current plans have sparked strong opposition from some local leaders. The District Councils Network claims that ministers have put forward proposals to restructure local government "in a rush" and have denied residents a voice. The group’s chairman, Councillor Sam Chapman-Allen, said: “Cancelling local elections comes after the government failed to mention in its general election manifesto that it was seeking to disempower communities by replacing district councils with larger authorities.”

Councillor Chapman-Allen also stated: “Democracy is being sidelined and local voters are being denied any democratic opportunity to have their say on a major reorganisation that will profoundly impact the fate of thousands of English towns and villages.” A spokesperson for the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “No decisions have been made on postponing elections. We will only consider postponing elections in areas where the relevant council requests it, and where it will assist the area in achieving restructuring and devolution within the most ambitious timescales.”