Keir Starmer has been forced to abandon plans to delay local elections in England with less than three months' notice, in another policy U-turn that has provoked anger among his own MPs and scorn from opposition leaders. The prime minister is under fire after ministers confirmed the reversal on Monday, a decision that will cost taxpayers millions of pounds in administrative costs.
Steve Reed, the local government secretary, announced the abandonment of the proposed delays after officials decided they were likely to lose a legal challenge brought by Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK. The government now faces a £100,000 legal bill from Reform, and councils must scramble to organise elections within 12 weeks.
The announcement has infuriated Labour MPs, many of whom opposed the original plan to delay elections for 30 councils. 'Most councillors feel devastated,' said one Labour MP for an affected area. 'Many didn’t want to cancel the elections. They felt pressurised into it.' Farage called for Reed's resignation, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the move as 'predictable chaos from a useless government'.
Reed said the government would give affected councils an extra £63 million to cover administrative costs, but local leaders warned that the tight timetable risks 'the successful delivery of elections'. The Local Government Information Unit said the constrained timetable would add 'additional strain' to staff workloads.
The decision was taken after legal advice warned that ministers were likely to lose the case against Farage, which was due to be heard in the High Court. Reed handed the decision to housing minister Matthew Pennycook, who advised dropping the policy. Government aides said the prime minister was not involved in the decision but retains faith in Reed, one of his closest allies.
