Labour is facing growing criticism after it emerged that more than 20 Labour run councils are considering delaying local elections in areas where the party is struggling in the polls and where Reform UK and the Conservatives are expected to make gains.
An examination of council responses shows Labour has already agreed to postpone elections in five areas due to vote this May and is considering delays in a further 17. Only four Labour authorities have so far ruled out cancelling or postponing elections.
The pattern contrasts sharply with other parties. Just two Conservative councils and one Liberal Democrat authority have indicated they support a delay, while most councils not run by Labour have either rejected the proposal outright or confirmed elections will go ahead as scheduled.
The issue comes at a time when Reform UK is polling strongly across parts of England, particularly in the North and Midlands, placing Labour at risk of losing ground since Keir Starmer entered Downing Street.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed last month offered 63 councils the option to delay elections until 2027, arguing that councils needed time to focus on local government reorganisation. Under the proposals, district councils would be abolished and merged into larger unitary authorities.
However, critics say Labour councils appear disproportionately keen to delay elections in areas where voter support for the party has weakened.
Labour run councils in Hyndburn, Chorley, Preston and Blackburn with Darwen have all confirmed they have requested a delay. Recent polling suggests Reform UK is performing strongly in each of these areas.
In Hyndburn, Reform is polling at 39 per cent while Labour has fallen to 16 per cent, placing it third. In Preston, Reform stands at 30 per cent compared with Labour’s 24 per cent. In Blackburn, Labour is reportedly running fourth behind an independent candidate, the Greens and Reform.
Four of the confirmed Labour delays are in northern England, where polling shows Reform ahead on 29 per cent compared with Labour’s 25 per cent.
Labour councillors in Exeter are also considering postponing elections, arguing it would save money and allow officers to concentrate on reorganisation, with a decision expected shortly.
In a further 17 Labour controlled areas, councils have not ruled out delays and say a decision will be taken by the Government’s January 15 deadline. In Nuneaton and Bedworth, where Labour runs a minority administration, Labour supports a delay while the Conservatives oppose it.
Nigel Farage said Labour was attempting to avoid voter judgement.
“This is the kind of outrageous behaviour you expect from a banana republic,” he said. “Labour is damaging our democracy.”
In Redditch, former Conservative councillor Emma Marshall is organising a rally opposing any cancellation of elections. She said postponement could not be justified.
“Cancelling elections is serious business and should only ever happen in truly exceptional circumstances,” she said. “At this stage, it hasn’t even been confirmed that Redditch will be included in the next tranche of Local Government Reorganisation, see there is no justification for postponing the vote.
“Redditch is also in a unique position compared to many other councils: we elect in thirds, meaning elections take place every year and the costs are already built into the budget. Holding these elections now, and potentially a unitary election in 2027, if required, does not create any additional cost to the public.
“It increasingly feels as though some councils are seeking to cancel elections simply because they find them inconvenient. But democracy is never inconvenient.”
Sir James Cleverly, the shadow communities secretary, also criticised the proposals.
“Labour are denying democracy because they know they are in for a pasting at the ballot box,” he said. “Local democracy should not be cancelled for a second year in a row, with councillors serving seven year terms and residents denied their right to vote yet again.”
Under the Government’s plans, elections scheduled for May 2026 could be cancelled, with new elections for unitary authorities held in May 2027. Councillors elected in 2021 would remain in office until 2028, extending their terms from four years to seven.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said concerns were premature, arguing that councils were best placed to judge whether postponements were appropriate and pointing to previous reorganisations where elections were delayed.
However, with Labour councils accounting for the majority of proposed delays, critics argue the situation risks undermining public confidence in local democracy at a time when trust in politics is already fragile.
The Labour Party have been invited to comment.
What do you think?
Do you believe delaying local elections undermines democracy and denies voters their right to hold councils to account?
Or do you think it is reasonable for the Government to postpone elections during periods of local government reorganisation, even if that means councillors remain in office for longer than originally intended?
Let us know what you think in the comments.
