Housing Secretary Steve Reed confirmed to the House today:
“In December, the minister for local government and homelessness wrote to 63 councils due to hold elections in May 2026 to hear their views. I have carefully assessed over 350 representations from those councils with elections scheduled in May and from others who are interested in the outcome. I have carefully considered arguments made about capacity, reorganisation and democracy, and I’m grateful to everyone who took the time to express their views. I can now confirm my decisions to the House – I have decided to bring forward legislation to postpone 29 elections.”
Essex has requested a delay at the last minute, which is expected to be approved by ministers, taking it to 30 councils. That’s 5.6 million votes cancelled. Let the people vote…
UPDATE: MHCLG is ringing round outlets asking for this to be referred to as “delayed” rather than “cancelled” elections. Desperate…
Read the full list of cancelled council elections below:
Adur – Labour
Basildon – NOC
Blackburn with Darwen – Labour
Burnley – NOC
Cannock Chase – Labour
Cheltenham – Liberal Democrat
Chorley – Labour
City of Lincoln – Labour
Crawley – Labour
East Sussex (County) – Conservative
Exeter – Labour
Harlow – Conservative
Hastings – NOC
Hyndburn – Labour
Ipswich – Labour
Norfolk (County) – Conservative
Norwich – Labour
Peterborough – NOC
Preston – Labour
Redditch – Labour
Rugby – Conservative
Stevenage – Labour
Suffolk (County) – Conservative
Tamworth – Conservative
Thurrock – Labour
Welwyn Hatfield – Conservative
West Lancashire – Labour
West Sussex (County) – Conservative
Worthing – Labour
![Keith Ellison Caught Promising to Fight State Agencies for Somali Fraudsters [WATCH]](https://www.right2024.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Keith-Ellison-Caught-Promising-to-Fight-State-Agencies-for-Somali-350x250.jpg)
