Over Half of England's County Councils Seek to Delay Local Elections

Proposed election delays are tied to major local government restructuring under devolution plans, raising concerns over democratic representation.

At least 12 of 21 English county councils have requested to postpone May 2025 local elections as part of restructuring efforts for new unitary authorities under Labour's devolution agenda.
The proposed delays aim to streamline governance by merging county and district councils, with some elections potentially postponed until 2026 or beyond.
Critics, including Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats, argue the delays undermine democracy by depriving millions of voters of their say during a significant reorganization of local government.
Labour and Conservative leaders defend the delays as necessary for efficient implementation of devolution plans, though some local council leaders oppose them as unnecessary and divisive.
Final decisions on election postponements will be made by mid-February, with councils required to submit requests by January 10 to meet government timelines.