Overview
- Sixty-three councils tied to local government reorganisation were invited to seek a one-year deferral, and 29 have formally asked for a delay.
- Analysis indicates 21 of the requesting authorities are Labour-led, with four Conservative, two Liberal Democrat, one Green and one Independent.
- Councils cite limited capacity and costs linked to moves toward unitary structures by 2028, with requests spanning areas such as Peterborough, Cheltenham and multiple Lancashire boroughs.
- The Electoral Commission says capacity constraints are not a legitimate reason to delay long-planned polls and warns that extending mandates risks damaging public confidence.
- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says the party will seek a judicial review to force votes to proceed, and the final decision on any deferrals rests with the government.