It comes as councils undergo a restructuring revamp
Nina Lloyd, PA , Ian Jones, PA and Katy Hallam Audience Editor
18:15, 15 Jan 2026
At least 27 local councils have requested to postpone this year's elections due to a Government restructuring initiative, say administrators.
Those include two in the Midlands - Redditch and Rugby. District and county council votes across England, planned for May, are likely to be deferred as officials aim to implement structural alterations as part of a revamp of local government.
Opposition critics have accused Labour of "running scared" from voters after ministers announced they would sanction delays if councils expressed concerns about their ability to introduce reforms promptly.
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However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended the Government's plans, stating that the potential for delays was "a common sense question" of whether to proceed with elections in instances where the local authority is set to undergo changes.
Data gathered by the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) indicates that 16 district councils have asked for their elections to be postponed.
Some are yet to decide whether to request a postponement ahead of the request deadline at midnight on Thursday.
According to the AEA, the local authorities requesting to delay their district elections include:.
– Basildon.
– Blackburn with Darwen.
– Burnley.
– Cheltenham.
– Chorley.
– Exeter.
– Hyndburn.
– Ipswich.
– Norwich.
– Peterborough.
– Preston.
– Redditch.
– Rugby.
– Stevenage.
– Thurrock.
And the local authorities requesting to defer their county elections are:.
– Adur.
– Arun.
– Chichester.
– Crawley.
– Eastbourne.
– Horsham.
– Lewes.
– Mid Sussex.
– Rother.
– Wealden.
– Worthing.
Furthermore, Hastings has requested deferrals for both district elections and county elections in East Sussex, the data shows.
Around six local authorities – Adur District Council, Lincoln City, Crawley, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Tamworth and Worthing – have informed the Press Association they are looking to defer their district council votes.
Ipswich Council confirmed it would seek to have the date of its county council election moved back.
The Government's restructuring of local authorities will replace existing two-tier arrangements of district and county councils with new "unitary" bodies accountable for providing all council services in their area.
When questioned on Thursday about the possibility of delays, Sir Keir told broadcasters: "Well, what is happening is the biggest reorganisation of councils for 50 years and it is only right that we ask whether it's sensible to elect people to councils that are actually going to change in their composition in a few years' time.
"But the Government is not taking the decision on this. It's down to individual, locally-led decisions, and different councils have taken different positions.
"Some Labour councils have asked for a delay. Some Tory councils have asked for a delay, and a Lib Dem council.
"So, it's a local issue, but what sits behind it is this common sense question of whether it makes sense to elect people to positions when the council itself is going to change in a very short period of time."
Peter Stanyon, chief executive of the AEA, commented: "Once the submission deadline passes, we know our members would appreciate a final Government decision on whether elections are postponed or not as soon as possible.
"The starting gun for May 7 elections is fired when notices of election are published at the end of March, so time is ticking.
"There are still legislative hoops to jump through before Returning Officers and electoral administrators can confidently down tools, so the sooner the postponement Order is laid, the better."
Shadow local government secretary Sir James Cleverly remarked: "Labour are running scared of voters because they know they are set for a ballot-box battering due to their disastrous performance in office.
"This Government is denying democracy and depriving local communities of the right to choose who represents them. As a result, some councillors will now end up serving seven-year terms.
"We are clear that these elections should go ahead. Ministers should treat voters with respect instead of disdain, stop undermining our democratic system and let the people of this country make their own decisions."
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government responded: "This is pointless speculation about a process that is ongoing."
The Government is anticipated to announce which elections will be delayed following Thursday's cut-off date.