Overview
- At least 29 councils have asked to defer May 2026 polls by a year, citing cost and capacity pressures from local government reorganisation, while many others have confirmed they will proceed.
- Sky News previously verified 24 requests with a majority led by Labour, and later lists expanded the total to 29 including Cheltenham, Exeter, Ipswich, Peterborough, Thurrock and West Sussex.
- The Electoral Commission’s chief executive said scheduled elections should normally proceed and warned that capacity constraints are not a valid reason to delay long‑planned votes.
- Hampshire County Council confirmed it will hold elections on time, joining authorities such as Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Norfolk that set out cases to proceed despite reorganisation.
- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage signalled a legal challenge to any cancellations, as outside analysis suggested postponements could spare Labour losses in several councils, with the final decision resting with the government.