Iain Duncan Smith fumes at ‘arrogant Labour’ for delaying local elections – ‘you don’t own democracy’ | 

Local councils due to hold elections next year will be given the chance to put them on pause until 2027

Nigel Farage has branded Labour a “banana republic” after the Government revealed local elections across Britain could be postponed again.

The Government today confirmed ministers have written to as many as 63 local authorities offering them the opportunity to delay next year’s elections to 2027.

Plans to delay the elections will mean millions of Britons will face longer waits to have their say at the ballot box.

Reacting to the news, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas.

“Tory county councils look set to collude with Labour to keep their control until 2027.”

He added: “Only a banana republic bans elections.”

Some councils had raised concerns elections could divert substantial time and resources away from delivering local government reorganisation, as new councillors only serve briefly before their councils are replaced with new ones.

Elections in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hampshire, East and West Sussex were already postponed this year until 2026.

Surrey County Council had its elections delayed this year however, voters are expected to go to the ballot box in May.Nigel Farage branded Labour a ‘banana republic’

Meanwhile, Hampshire County Council has made clear it will not push for a further delay.

Under controversial plans, Labour is looking to end the two-tier system of county and district councils, instead creating several larger councils covered by a directly elected mayor with additional devolved powers.

New, unitary authorities are expected to be up and running in April 2028.

Local government minister Alison McGovern said: “We have listened to councils who’ve told us of the challenges they face reorganising while preparing for resource-intensive elections for areas which may shortly be abolished.

“Our goal is to create new councils who can improve services for residents and it is only right that we listen to councils,” she added.

Speaking on the decision to delay local elections, Ms McGovern made clear Whitehall does not wish to dictate local decisions without consultation and they will “listen to local leaders” on what is right for each area.

She said: “To be clear, should a council say that they have no reason to delay their elections, there will be no delay,” the minister said.

“If a council voices genuine concerns, we’ll take these issues seriously, and would be minded to grant a delay in those areas.”

In the wake of the decision, a petition was launched by Reform UK to reverse the decision.

At time of writing, the petition has passed 115,000 signatures.

Speaking to Martin Daubney, GB News’ Chief Political Correspondent, Katherine Forster said: “I was in a lobby briefing with the Prime Minister’s official spokesman a bit earlier.

“They say that they totally reject that [Mar Farage’s banana republic claims].

“They say that what this is about is a huge reorganisation of local government that hasn’t been done for 50 years.

“They’re getting rid of local councils, district councils and county councils are scrapping them completely, replacing them with bigger councils to manage local government.”

Ministers have invited 63 areas to set out their views, with a deadline of January 15.

It is understood the following councils have been invited:

Adur District Council
Basildon Borough Council
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Blackburn with Darwen Council
Brentwood Borough Council
Broxbourne Borough Council
Burnley Borough Council
Cambridge City Council
Cannock Chase District Council
Cheltenham Borough Council
Cherwell District Council
Chorley Borough Council
City of Lincoln Council
Colchester City Council
Crawley Borough Council
East Sussex County Council
Eastleigh Borough Council
Epping Forest District Council
Essex County Council
Exeter City Council
Fareham Borough Council
Gosport Borough Council
Hampshire County Council
Harlow District Council
Hart District Council
Hastings Borough Council
Havant Borough Council
Huntingdonshire District Council
Hyndburn Borough Council
Ipswich Borough Council
Isle of Wight Council
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Norfolk County Council
North East Lincolnshire Council
Norwich City Council
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
Oxford City Council
Pendle Borough Council
Peterborough City Council
Plymouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council
Preston City Council
Redditch Borough Council
Rochford District Council
Rugby Borough Council
Rushmoor Borough Council
South Cambridgeshire District Council
Southampton City Council
Southend-on-Sea City Council
St Albans City and District Council
Stevenage Borough Council
Suffolk County Council
Tamworth Borough Council
Three Rivers District Council
Thurrock Council
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Watford Borough Council
Watford Borough Council Mayor
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
West Lancashire Borough Council
West Oxfordshire District Council
West Sussex County Council
Winchester City Council
Worthing Borough Council