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The UK government has cancelled plans to delay 30 local council elections in England after receiving legal advice that the move might not be lawful.
Ministers had proposed postponing the elections while they reorganise local authorities. The reorganisation could result in some councils merging or being replaced, and the government argued it did not make sense to hold elections for councils that might soon cease to exist.
However, the plan sparked strong criticism from opposition parties. Nigel Farage and his party, Reform UK, launched a legal challenge, claiming the delay was anti-democratic. The case was due to be heard in court this month.
On Monday, the government confirmed it had withdrawn the decision after reviewing legal advice. A spokesperson for the local government department said that providing certainty to councils was now the priority and confirmed that all local elections will take place in May 2026 as scheduled.
In a letter to Farage, a government lawyer said Local Government Secretary Steve Reed had asked Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook to review the legality of postponing the elections. After the review, Pennycook decided the elections should go ahead this year.
Farage later posted on social media platform X, claiming victory and accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour government of trying to prevent millions of people from voting.
