Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has formally requested an investigation by the UK's human rights watchdog into government plans to postpone a swathe of local elections next year.
"Democratic Rights Ripped Away"
In a strongly-worded letter to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), Sir Ed warned that nearly ten million people could see their democratic rights "ripped away". The intervention follows a government announcement that it would consider delaying May 2025 elections for councils undergoing major reorganisation.
Sir Ed cited Article 3 of the first protocol of the Human Rights Act, which enshrines the right to free elections. "Removing elections altogether, entirely unnecessarily, is in clear breach of this principle," he wrote. He directly asked the EHRC to confirm its plans to investigate what he termed the government's "cavalier approach to our elections".
The Reorganisation Behind the Delay
The potential postponements are linked to a significant shake-up of local government in England. Labour ministers plan to scrap the existing two-tier system of district and county councils, replacing them with new unitary authorities set to deliver all local services from 2028. Many of these new authorities are expected to be led by directly elected mayors.
On Thursday 19 December 2024, Local Government Minister Alison McGovern revealed in a Written Ministerial Statement that the government had contacted all 63 councils impacted by the reorganisation and due to hold votes in May. They were asked to state if they required a delay, with a deadline of 15 January 2025 to respond.
Ms McGovern stated that some authorities had expressed concerns about their capacity to run elections while managing the planned overhaul. The cost to taxpayers of holding polls for councils soon to be abolished was also a factor. "Should a council say they have no reason for postponement, then we will listen to them," she said. "But if a council voices genuine concerns about its capacity, then we will take these concerns seriously."
Widespread Criticism and Council Responses
The government's stance has drawn sharp criticism. The Electoral Commission stated that capacity constraints are not a "legitimate reason for delaying long planned elections" and warned the plan risks "damaging public confidence".
Opposition parties have reacted furiously. Reform UK has threatened legal action, accusing Labour and the Conservatives of "colluding" to lock other parties out of power—a sentiment previously expressed by Sir Ed Davey. However, Shadow Local Government Secretary Sir James Cleverly told Sky News last week that the Conservative Party "wants these elections to go ahead".
Following the announcement, Sky News contacted the 63 councils. At the time, five indicated they would request a postponement:
- Blackburn with Darwen Council (Labour)
- Chorley Borough Council (Labour)
- East Sussex County Council (Conservative minority)
- Hastings Borough Council (Green minority)
- West Sussex County Council (Conservative)
Elections in nine areas, including Essex, Suffolk, East Sussex, and West Sussex, originally scheduled for May 2025, have already been postponed once before.
Responding to the criticism, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government defended the "locally-led approach," arguing councils are best placed to judge the impact. They cited "exceptional circumstances" and pointed to a clear precedent for such delays during reorganisations in 2019 and 2022.
