Council shake-up sees elections delayed in nine areas

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey MP said the delays were a “disgraceful stitch up between Labour and the Conservatives”.

“The Liberal Democrats made sweeping gains against the Conservatives at the general election, and now failing Tory-run councils are running scared and denying voters a chance to kick them out of office in May.”

Reform UK has launched a petition against the delay in elections, with leader Nigel Farage on X claiming that “Labour and the Tories have colluded to officially cancel over 5.5 million votes in May”.

Co-leader of the Green Party Adrian Ramsay expressed concern that the changes would mean “centralising power from local communities to remote county councils”.

He added that without elections, county councillors would have no mandate to negotiate the new structures.

Councillor Marianne Overton, leader of the Independent Network of Councillors across England and Wales, said: “There is still no clarity on how the cost of reorganisation will be met beyond asset stripping existing councils.

“This will move democracy further away from residents, putting power into the hands of the few, not the many.”

Some of the councils who had seen their request for a delay rejected responded angrily to Rayner’s announcement.

The leaders of Kent and Medway councils, Roger Gough and Vince Maple said the decision was “undoubtedly disappointing” adding: “The reason we have been given is both confusing and insufficient and we will be seeking more detail from ministers as to the rationale as soon as possible.”