Ministers withdrew a proposal to delay 30 council elections, citing new legal advice, after Reform UK threatened court action.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The UK government has reversed plans to postpone 30 local council elections scheduled for May 2026 following a threatened legal challenge from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party.
The Labour government had been preparing to defend its decision before the High Court, where it was set to face Reform UK’s legal team over the proposed cancellation affecting more than 4.5 million voters. On Monday, however, Downing Street withdrew the plan, citing updated legal guidance.
According to The Times of London, approximately 672 councillors who would have avoided elections will now face voters in May, including 205 from the Labour Party.
A spokesperson for the ministry said, “Following legal advice, the government has withdrawn its original decision to postpone 30 local elections in May. Providing certainty to councils about their local elections is now the most crucial thing, and all local elections will now go ahead in May 2026.”
In correspondence to Reform UK, government lawyers wrote: “The secretary of state has decided to withdraw his decision to postpone the council elections of 30 local councils due to take place in May 2026 in the light of recent legal advice.”
The government had previously argued that the postponement was necessary due to ongoing restructuring of local government bodies. Similar cancellations last year affected approximately 5.5 million voters.
Downing Street also announced that £63 million in additional funding would be made available to local authorities to administer the elections. The government further said it would reimburse Reform UK for its legal expenses incurred in the challenge.
Nigel Farage welcomed the reversal in a post on X, calling it a major victory. “This is a huge win for democracy, a huge win for Reform, and I tell you what, we are going to campaign like hell,” he said.
The reinstated elections may provide Reform UK an opportunity to expand its presence at the local level. According to reporting by The Times, the party could emerge as the largest local political force in Norfolk and Suffolk, areas currently controlled by the Conservative Party, which had requested the delay.
Reform UK is also expected to compete for gains in Labour-held areas including Essex and Lancashire, where the party previously recorded electoral advances.
The decision marks a shift in the government’s approach following legal scrutiny and restores the planned electoral timetable for May 2026.
Original article
Comments