Labour is facing a storm of criticism in the Commons after confirming 29 English councils will postpone their May elections. This move could impact a whopping 3.7 million voters as the Government fast-tracks council shake-ups.
Nearly half of councils push polls to 2027 amid shake-up
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed revealed that almost half of the 63 councils that offered the choice last month have opted to delay elections until 2027. This pause supports a planned shift to unitary authorities expected by 2028, meaning current councillors will have their terms briefly extended until new elections.
Opposition hits out: Labour accused of election cancellations
Shadow Local Government Secretary Sir James Cleverly didn’t hold back, branding the postponements “unprecedented cancellations.” He jabbed at Labour’s recent slump in the polls, asking: “What was it about the Labour Party’s collapse in opinion polls that first attracted him to cancelling local elections?”
