Overview
- Norwich leader Mike Stonard and his six-member cabinet meet on January 14 to decide whether to ask ministers to postpone the city’s May 2026 vote.
- The government has invited councils to request deferrals by January 15, saying final decisions on shifting contests to 2027 will come early this year.
- Norwich opposition parties — Greens, Reform UK and Liberal Democrats — label a potential delay undemocratic and criticise the cabinet-only, last‑minute process.
- Four Labour-run councils — Preston, Chorley, Hyndburn and Blackburn with Darwen — have already postponed, while GB News reports 29 councils delaying or undecided and cites claims that up to 10 million voters could be affected.
- A government spokesman calls broad cancellation fears "pointless speculation" and points to 2019–2021 precedents for delays during reorganisation; Norfolk County Council’s leader says she will not seek a pause.