The UK's elections watchdog has issued a stern rebuke to the government over its "unprecedented" offer to consider postponing dozens of local council elections scheduled for May 2026.
Watchdog Warns of Damaged Public Confidence
The Electoral Commission said it was "disappointed by both the timing and substance" of a government statement, released on Thursday 19 December 2025, which offered 63 councils the chance to request a delay. The chief executive, Vijay Rangarajan, warned that deferring scheduled votes should only happen in "exceptional circumstances" and that the late move risked "damaging public confidence" and affecting the legitimacy of local decision-making.
Mr Rangarajan highlighted the "unprecedented" uncertainty created, with final decisions not due until mid-January 2026—less than three months before polls are set to open. He argued that capacity constraints within councils were not a legitimate reason to delay long-planned elections and noted a "clear conflict of interest" in asking existing councils to decide when they next face voters.
Councils Respond: Five Seek Postponement, Twelve Refuse
Sky News contacted all 63 councils involved. At the time of publication, five authorities confirmed they would formally seek 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)
These councils cited the high cost of holding elections—West Sussex estimated a £9m bill over three years—and a desire to focus resources on major local government reorganisation plans. Conversely, twelve councils told Sky News they would not request a delay, including Basingstoke and Deane, Essex County Council, and Southampton City Council.
Political Fallout and Government Defence
The surprise government move has sparked a political row. Reform UK has threatened legal action, accusing the main parties of "colluding" to lock rivals out of power, a sentiment echoed by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey. However, Shadow Local Government Secretary Sir James Cleverly insisted the Conservative Party wants the elections to proceed.
Defending its position, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government said it was taking a "locally-led approach", arguing these were "exceptional circumstances" where councils are juggling election preparation with complex reorganisation into more efficient authorities. They pointed to precedents for delay during reorganisations in 2019 and 2022.
With a government deadline of 15 January for council responses, the fate of the May 2026 local elections for these areas remains in the balance, leaving candidates, parties, and electoral administrators in a state of limbo.
