Ministers have pressed ahead with controversial plans to cancel local elections in dozens of predominantly Labour-controlled areas this Thursday, despite receiving stark warnings that the move is 'almost certainly illegal'.
Unprecedented Scale of Postponement
Communities Secretary Steve Reed confirmed that polls will be postponed in 29 local authorities this May. The stated rationale is to free up resources for a costly and extensive shake-up of local government structures. However, this decision will directly deprive approximately 3.7 million citizens of their right to vote in the upcoming contests.
A Political Lifeline for Starmer?
The move carries significant political implications. An analysis reveals that 21 of the affected councils are currently under Labour control, constituting more than two-thirds of the total. In several instances, these elections are being delayed for a second consecutive year, a point of major contention. With opinion polls suggesting Labour is facing a potential drubbing in May's elections, widely seen as a critical test for Sir Keir Starmer's leadership, these cancellations could artificially limit the party's losses.
Furthermore, the postponements may also stymie the political momentum of Reform UK, denying the party opportunities to gain ground against both Labour and the Conservatives in these key areas.
Legal Challenges and Accusations Fly
The decision has ignited a fierce political and legal firestorm. Robert Jenrick, the former Conservative communities secretary who recently defected to Reform, delivered a damning assessment. He revealed that during his tenure, government legal advice concluded that delaying elections for a second year was not legally sustainable, a stance maintained even during the Covid-19 pandemic.
'What the Secretary of State is doing is almost certainly illegal,' Jenrick told MPs, accusing the government of acting without precedent.
Shadow communities secretary Sir James Cleverly condemned the 'unprecedented' scale of the cancellations, branding it an act of political 'cowardice'. He pointedly asked in the Commons what it was about Labour's collapse in the polls that first attracted Mr. Reed to the idea.
Reform UK figures have been particularly scathing. Deputy leader Richard Tice stated bluntly, 'Dictators cancel elections,' while Nigel Farage has labelled the decision the act of a 'banana republic' and has already initiated legal proceedings to force the elections to proceed.
Watchdog Warns of Eroding Trust
Adding weight to the criticism, the independent Electoral Commission has stated it does not believe the delays are justified. The watchdog warned that postponing long-planned elections risks 'damaging public confidence' in the democratic process and asserted that 'capacity constraints are not a legitimate reason' for such action.
Government Defence and Democratic Concerns
In defence of the move, Steve Reed insisted the process was 'locally led' and argued that holding elections for councils slated for abolition could hinder vital, money-saving reforms in the long term. He cited precedents set by previous Conservative governments during past reorganisations.
However, critics within Parliament have raised profound democratic concerns. Florence Eshalomi, Labour chair of the Commons housing, communities and local government committee, issued a powerful warning: 'Democracy is not an inefficiency that should be cut out.' She emphasised that councils 'should not have to face choosing between frontline services or elections', framing the issue as a fundamental question of civic priority.
A last-minute submission delayed a final decision regarding Essex County Council, with its Tory leader clarifying the authority had 'never asked for a postponement', further complicating the government's 'locally led' narrative.
