The Liberal Democrats have launched a fierce attack on Labour's plans to postpone local elections, branding the move a breach of voters' fundamental human rights. However, the party faced immediate scrutiny after failing to guarantee that councils under its own control would not also delay their votes.
A Question of Law and Principle
In a formal letter to Mary-Ann Stephenson, the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Lib Dems argued that Labour's controversial decision to allow delays is unlawful. The party's Cabinet Office spokeswoman, Lisa Smart, stated the plan contravenes rules around the 'Right to free and fair elections'. She suggested the move looked like an attempt to 'stitch things up' by a party fearing poor results in the May polls.
This criticism comes as Labour pushes ahead with its scheme to scrap two-tier local authorities and merge them into new unitary bodies by 2028. The government has said that up to 63 councils scheduled for votes in May could postpone them until 2027, citing a lack of capacity to manage reorganisation in time.
Hypocrisy Claims as Lib Dems Hedge Their Bets
The Lib Dem position was undermined when Lisa Smart, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, could not confirm that the eight local authorities her party controls would proceed with elections as planned. Asked directly, she said council leaders would 'make decisions based on their circumstances' and admitted she had not yet spoken to them to ascertain their intentions.
This has triggered accusations of political manoeuvring from all sides. Opponents claim ministers are afraid of a major electoral backlash, with swings towards Reform UK and the Conservatives anticipated. The upcoming votes are widely seen as a critical test for the Prime Minister's leadership.
Electoral Commission Adds Its Voice to Critics
In a rare intervention, the Electoral Commission has publicly rebuked the government over the proposed delays. Its chief executive, Vijay Rangarajan, expressed disappointment with both the timing and substance of the announcement, affecting up to 10 million voters.
Rangarajan stated that scheduled elections should only be postponed in exceptional circumstances, adding: 'As a matter of principle, we do not think that capacity constraints are a legitimate reason for delaying long-planned elections.' He warned that extending existing council mandates risks damaging public confidence and creates a clear conflict of interest, as sitting councillors would decide when they next face the electorate.
The Commission also highlighted the unprecedented uncertainty for candidates, campaigners, and administrators, who have already begun preparations. This late change, they argue, solves nothing and undermines the democratic process.
