Sixteen local authorities across England, including two in the Midlands, have formally requested to postpone elections scheduled for this May. The move comes as the government pushes ahead with a significant reorganisation of local councils.
Councils Cite Reorganisation as Reason for Postponement
The requests centre on a planned local government shake-up that involves structural changes for many councils. District and county council ballots set for May are now likely to be pushed back in the affected areas.
Officials argue they need more time to implement the reforms properly. The deadline for councils to submit a postponement request was midnight on Thursday, 16 January 2026.
Redditch Borough Council and Rugby Borough Council are the two Midlands authorities confirmed to have asked for a delay. A number of other councils were still deciding whether to make a request right up to the deadline.
'Running Scared' Claim vs. 'Common Sense' Defence
The government's decision to authorise delays if councils express capacity concerns has sparked a political row. Opposition critics have accused the Labour administration of "running scared" of voters.
However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended the approach. He characterised the potential postponements as "a common sense question". He argued it was logical to reconsider holding elections where the local authority is on the brink of undergoing major changes.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed has also rejected the criticism, stating that the delays are not about "denying democracy".
Full List of Councils Seeking a Delay
According to the Association of Electoral Administrators, the sixteen local authorities asking to postpone their district council elections are:
- Basildon
- Blackburn with Darwen
- Burnley
- Cheltenham
- Chorley
- Exeter
- Hastings
- Hyndburn
- Ipswich
- Norwich
- Peterborough
- Preston
- Redditch
- Rugby
- Stevenage
- Thurrock
The situation leaves voters in these areas in limbo, awaiting a final decision on when they will next go to the polls to choose their local representatives.
