Councils invited to delay local elections

English councils set for reorganisation have been invited to make their cases for postponing local elections in their areas.

This follows the news earlier this month that new mayoral elections in four areas are likely to be delayed from 2026 until 2028.

Ministers have now written to 63 local authorities after some expressed concern that elections could, the government said, “divert substantial time and resources away from delivering local government reorganisation – with new councillors serving only briefly before their councils are replaced with new ones”.

These local authorities now have until January 15 to offer their views on the potential postponement of local elections, with the government taking into consideration their capacity to deliver local government reorganisation alongside elections.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said it would review representations and evidence, reaching a decision by “early next year”.

The 63 councils – out of a total of 204 across 21 areas undergoing reorganisation – are due to hold elections in May 2026. If delayed, these would be postponed for a year before elections to the new unitary councils in May 2027.

It is expected the …