11 councils ask Government to postpone local elections ahead of reorganisation

Eleven councils have so far asked to postpone elections this year, ahead of the biggest reorganisation of local government in decades, it is understood.

Local authorities have until Friday to request permission from the Government to postpone their elections, after plans to abolish two-tier council areas were announced in December, as part of Labour’s proposals to devolve more power away from Westminster.

With 21 county councils and 10 unitary authorities due to hold elections this May, some have sought to delay them to allow time to develop proposals on reorganisation.

They include Surrey, Oxfordshire, Devon and Norfolk county councils, which have all voted to push their elections back.

Worcestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Gloucestershire and Thurrock have also requested postponements.

Ministers have previously said there would be “very clear criteria” for delaying elections, with postponement only considered “where this would help deliver reorganisation and devolution”.

On Friday, Downing Street said delays would not be “mandated” and the Government would “work collaboratively” with councils to ensure postponement “fits with reorganisation and devolution in the most ambitious timeframe”.

But the prospect of delaying local elections has met with opposition from a range of political parties.

The Liberal Democrats have accused Conservative-run councils such as Surrey and Devon of “running scared” and “silencing democracy” after the party made gains in both counties in the general election.

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “This attempt to silence the voice of millions is a scandal. Democracy delayed is democracy denied.”

Reform UK, which hopes to make significant gains in May’s polls, has also objected to delays, and deputy leader Richard Tice on Monday accused Conservative-led councils of “bottling it and abandoning the elections”.

Conservative shadow local government secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: “No council should be bullied or blackmailed into local government restructuring. It should not be imposed by top-down Whitehall fiat.

“Conservatives have always supported greater joint working and stronger local accountability through directly elected leaders. But there are many ways to do this, and local government should be ‘local’ to residents and respect proud local identities.”

Meanwhile, some lower-tier councils have expressed reservations about delays.

Alistair Beales, leader of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council, said delaying elections in Norfolk was “plainly unnecessary” and “could prove divisive”, after news the county council planned to ask for a postponement.

Downing Street said it would “provide certainty” to those areas that had asked for a delay “as soon as possible”.