More than a third of the councils offered a postponement for next year's local elections have requested one, according to a new analysis, a move that has ignited fierce criticism from opposition parties and the electoral watchdog.
Which Councils Are Seeking a Postponement?
Twenty-four of the 63 councils approached by the government have confirmed to Sky News that they have formally asked for their May 2026 elections to be delayed by a year. The deadline for these requests passed at midnight on Thursday 15 January 2026.
The vast majority of those seeking a delay are led by the Labour Party. Of the 24 councils, eighteen are under Labour control, either with a majority or as the lead party in a coalition. Two are Conservative-led, two are Liberal Democrat, one is Green, and one is independent. A further six councils had not publicly confirmed their position by the time of writing.
All councils requesting a postponement cited the significant resources required to deliver the government's Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme. Many also argued it was financially illogical to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on an election for councillor roles that would exist for just one year before reorganisation.
Government Justification and Political Backlash
The potential delays stem from an unexpected announcement by the government just before Christmas 2025. Ministers said they would consider postponing elections in 63 council areas facing challenges related to LGR plans.
Defending the move, Local Government Secretary Steve Reed told Sky's Politics Hub that the "vast majority of elections are going ahead on schedule." He stated the offer was limited to areas undergoing "the biggest reorganisation of councils in decades," arguing that streamlining two-tier authorities would free up money for frontline services.
However, the final decision rests with ministers, and the prospect of delays has provoked anger. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage condemned the plans as "monstrous," noting some areas face a second consecutive year of postponed elections. He announced his party is preparing a legal challenge, having previously accused Labour and the Conservatives of colluding to lock Reform out of power.
The Conservative opposition has also voiced strong objections. Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said it was "not right" that millions might be "denied the democratic right to seek change." He emphasised, "We don't want to see councillors serving seven-year terms. We need to get on with democracy."
Electoral Commission Raises Serious Concerns
The UK's independent electoral regulator has added its significant weight to the criticism. Chief Executive Vijay Rangarajan said he was "concerned" about the potential postponements, especially as some elections had already been deferred from 2025.
In a statement, he argued that "scheduled elections should, as a rule, go ahead as planned, and only be postponed in exceptional circumstances." He warned that late changes do not help administrators and that parties and candidates are already well into their preparations.
Rangarajan strongly asserted that "capacity constraints" were not a "legitimate reason for delaying long planned elections," a practice that risks "affecting the legitimacy of local decision-making and damaging public confidence." He also highlighted a "clear conflict of interest" in allowing sitting councils to decide how long they remain in power before facing voters.
Sky News contacted all 63 councils offered a delay. Alongside the 24 requesting a postponement, 31 said they would not, two were internally divided, and six had not responded.
