Reform UK chief Nigel Farage has claimed a “victory” after the federal government deserted plans to postpone 30 native elections – a call poll organisers say has left councils in a “race towards time”.
Labour introduced in December that it was planning to push the ballots from Might 2026 till 2027 – affecting greater than 4.5 million individuals – to overtake English council constructions.
Nevertheless, on Monday, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Native Authorities said it was no longer proceeding with the plan following legal advice, wanted a problem introduced by Reform UK towards the federal government.
Politics latest: Which councils are affected?
Elections will now happen on 7 Might, with a £63m fund out there to assist native councils throughout these areas reorganise their constructions, with “sensible assist” additionally on provide.
Mr Farage mentioned the federal government had “caved” and advised Native Authorities Secretary Steve Reed’s job needs to be in danger.
“It is a victory for Reform. However extra importantly, it is a victory for democracy on this nation,” Mr Farage declared.
The federal government has agreed to pay Reform’s authorized charges – one thing Sky Information understands to be a six-figure sum.
‘Months of planning time’ misplaced
Amongst these which had been resulting from miss out had been metropolis councils in Lincoln, Exeter, Norwich, Peterborough and Preston, alongside a number of districts reminiscent of Cannock Chase, Harlow, Welwyn Hatfield and West Lancashire.
Polling day had additionally been postponed for county council voters in East Sussex, West Sussex, Norfolk, and Suffolk.
Labour’s U-turn, the celebration’s fifteenth since coming to energy in July 2024, has angered a number of election directors.
Laura Lock, deputy chief govt of the Affiliation of Electoral Directors, mentioned officers and staff chargeable for organising elections have “misplaced months of important planning time”.
“These groups now face an uphill wrestle to catch as much as the place they need to be,” she mentioned. “They’ve paused planning to keep away from pointless value, however this implies they’re now enjoying catch-up.”
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Conservative councillor Richard Wright, chair of the District Councils’ Community – which represents 169 English councils – mentioned: “Council officers, councillors and native electorates can be bewildered by the unrelenting modifications to the electoral timetable.
“The councils affected face an pointless race towards time to make sure elections proceed easily and pretty, with polling stations booked and electoral workers out there.”
‘Inconceivable to plan successfully’
In the meantime, Matthew Hicks, chief of Tory-run Suffolk County Council mentioned that native councils had been experiencing “whiplash as main authorities choices shift repeatedly and with out warning”.
He added: “This uncertainty makes it virtually not possible to plan successfully, ship stability for residents, or present readability for our workers and companions.
“There may be now a major query mark over the federal government’s wider agenda for devolution and native authorities reorganisation.”
The chief of Labour-run Thurrock Council Lynn Worrall mentioned it was “disappointing that this determination has been reversed so late within the day”.
