Could your local election be delayed because of Labour's devolution plans?

Credit: PA

Over half of England's 21 county councils could delay their local elections due to happen in May, as a result of Labour's changes to local government.

In a major shake-up of council structures, the two-tier system of county councils and district councils could be replaced by merging them together to create "unitary" authorities. Labour say it will help them to avoid duplication and give regions "a bigger voice".

But many are unhappy about the potential delays - the District Councils network said people are being "deprived of their local democracy", calling the delays "unprecedented".

While Reform UK, which was expected to gain more seats at the elections in May, say Labour and the Conservatives "are colluding to rob the British people of their democratic rights."

ITV News has heard from thirteen councils who could delay their elections, with many holding meetings on Thursday and Friday to come to a formal decision

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Why might councils delay local elections?

There are 21 county councils in England, and 164 district councils. All county councils along with unitary councils and some regional mayors were due to have elections in May, after district and other types of councils held their elections in May last year.

But now at least half of those councils may not hold ballots at all, in order to smooth the transition process as they change their council structure.

Deputy PM and local government minister Angela Rayner told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday it would be "ludicrous" for councils to have elections if they're changing their structures.

Rayner initially said the delay "wouldn't be for longer than a couple of months" but could be up to "a year".

What are Labour's changes to local government?

Before Christmas Rayner announced Labour's "devolution revolution", pushing power out of Whitehall and into the hands of people with “skin in the game” across a range of policy areas including housing.

The Deputy PM said the Devolution White Paper will ensure regional powers are “no longer agreed at the whim of a minister in Whitehall”, promising a mayor for every region of England.

One of the key proposals in the White Paper was creating larger authorities by scrapping two-tier council areas - and Friday marks the deadline for councils to volunteer for this as part of the first wave of changes.

Which councils could see elections delayed?

ITV News understands the councils who have expressed interest in the structural changes and are willing to delay their elections are:

  • Leicestershire

  • Devon

  • Surrey

  • East Sussex

  • West Sussex

  • Warwickshire

  • Hampshire

  • Suffolk

  • Norfolk

  • Worcestershire

  • Oxfordshire

  • Essex

  • Kent

East Sussex, West Sussex, Norfolk, Devon, Leicestershire, Surrey, Kent and Worcestershire have all confirmed they are definitely coming forward as part of the first phase of changes and and therefore prepared to delay their elections.

Others are holding meetings on Friday where they will come to a formal decision, but have indicated an interest in the changes.

Some councils have come forward but aren't happy about having to delay the elections - like Norfolk, where council leader Kay Mason Billig said the government was pushing councils to take a decision with “indecent haste” and to apply to postpone elections.

But the council decided the alternative was to be at the back of the queue for powers and funding, which they didn't want.

Similarly, the leadership of Oxfordshire County Council "express significant reservations to government about postponing scheduled elections", but are likely to put themselves forward as part of the first restructuring phase.

Which councils will definitely hold elections in May?

Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire plan to go ahead with their elections in May as normal. They are all this working through the different options on devolution ahead of a formal invitation from the government later this month.

Who benefits from this?

Most of the councils that have expressed an interest in the changes and therefore delaying their elections are Conservative - which has led to accusations they are trying to hold onto seats they might otherwise lose after Labour's landslide election victory.

Analysis has also shows that scrapping district councils will disproportionately benefit the Labour Party.

Reform UK has accused both parties of trying to "cancel" the elections because they're afraid of Reform making gains.

Reform Leader Nigel Farage tweeted: "Surely this can’t be true? Only dictators cancel elections."

The District Councils Network said: "This is likely to mean that the local electorate has no ability to cast its verdict on plans – which were not mentioned in Labour’s general election manifesto – to replace highly localised district councils with mega councils with populations in excess of half a million people.

"We are concerned that reorganisation is being rushed, with councils given until 10 January to decide if they sought to delay elections in response to the English Devolution White Paper, published on 16 December."

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