Ministers have abandoned plans to delay local elections in 30 English council areas after conceding they were likely to lose a legal challenge. The reversal was announced on Monday by housing minister Matthew Pennycook, after his superior, housing secretary Steve Reed, recused himself from the decision.
The proposed postponements would have affected 63 council areas in total, but the government has now backed down. This marks a significant U-turn, as delaying elections has been done before, but officials acknowledged key differences this time, including the legal challenge.
The chain of events has raised questions about government decision-making, with officials refusing to answer further queries. The Norfolk council leader also pulled out of a long-awaited devolution deal over the election U-turn, highlighting the wider fallout from the controversy.
