Labour accused of 'damaging public confidence' as watchdog makes extraordinary intervention and says local elections MUST go ahead

It comes as Labour’s plans to scrap two-tier authorities and merge them into single unitary councils by 2028 are implemented.

However, Electoral Commission Chief Executive Vijay Rangarajan said the move caused "unprecedented" uncertainty and could damage public confidence in local democracy.

He said: "We are disappointed by both the timing and substance of the statement. Scheduled elections should as a rule go ahead as planned, and only be postponed in exceptional circumstances."

The commission is "concerned by the prospect of elections being delayed, and even more so at the possibility of those already deferred from 2025 being further postponed", he said.

Mr Rangarajan added: "As a matter of principle, we do not think that capacity constraints are a legitimate reason for delaying long-planned elections. Extending existing mandates risks affecting the legitimacy of local decision-making and damaging public confidence.

He also noted that new decisions on delaying polls will be taken only months before voting is due to take place, saying: "This uncertainty is unprecedented and will not help campaigners and administrators who need time to prepare for their important roles.

“We very much recognise the pressures on local government, but these late changes do not help administrators. Parties and candidates have already been preparing for some time, and will be understandably concerned.”

Local government minister Alison McGovern said on Thursday that the Government would consider granting a delay to councils that voice "genuine concerns" about carrying out elections in 2026.

She said: "Many councils across the country, and of all stripes, have expressed anxiety about their capacity to deliver a smooth and safe transition to new councils, alongside running resource-intensive elections to councils proposed to be shortly abolished.

"They have expressed concerns about the time and energy spent managing elections to bodies that won’t shortly exist, only to run an election a year later."

There are 204 councils across 21 areas undergoing reorganisation. The Government has written to the 63 of the councils scheduled to hold elections in May 2026 for their views on potential postponement, with the deadline to respond on January 15.

Polls in several council areas were cancelled this year, in East Sussex, West Sussex, Essex and Thurrock, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey.

Views on postponement have not been sought from Surrey, as it is on track for local elections to new councils in May 2026.

East Sussex has already asked to postpone its elections again, arguing electing councillors for just one year would be costly and distract from reorganisation efforts.

A spokesman said: "We still believe it would be more prudent for just one set of elections to be held in 2027."

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will not overrule Conservative-led councils which request to postpone next year's elections, a Tory spokesman has said.

Nine out of the 63 councils which must tell the Government if they want to delay their May elections by January 15 are Tory controlled.

Two of the those, East and West Sussex County Councils, have already said they will request to postpone the elections.

A Conservative spokesman said: "Kemi is the Conservative Party leader, but she respects local Conservative Council leaders.

"She has been clear that she wants the local elections to go ahead, but it is ultimately a decision for local Council leaders."

Reform UK's Nigel Farage hit out at the move, saying it shows a lack of authority.

Mr Farage said: "The subversion of democracy begins… Tory controlled East and West Sussex will cancel their elections for a second year in a row.

"Does Kemi Badenoch believe in holding these elections, or does she have no authority over her party?"