Conservatives Face Backlash Over Local Election Delay Requests

Tory-led councils seek postponement of May elections during local government restructuring, sparking criticism from opposition parties.

At least 14 predominantly Tory-led councils have requested to delay May's local elections to accommodate ongoing local government reorganization plans.
The restructuring aims to merge district councils into larger unitary authorities as part of a devolution initiative introduced by the Labour government.
Opposition parties, including Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party, accuse the Conservatives of attempting to avoid electoral losses in areas where they risk significant defeats.
Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats claim the delays undermine democracy, with Reform alleging a coordinated effort to block their growing support in key regions.
The government has stated that election delays will only be approved if they facilitate reorganization and devolution goals, with decisions expected in the coming weeks.