US EditionMinister defends Reed amid calls for him to resign over local elections U-turn
The government reversed election delays affecting over 4.5 million voters after a legal challenge from Reform UK and will cover the claimant’s legal costs.
- On Monday, the UK Government reversed its decision to postpone 30 local elections, writing to the High Court to withdraw the postponement after legal advice; all elections will proceed in May 2026.
- The reversal followed a legal challenge from Reform UK, which argued the delay was unlawful and had a High Court hearing set for Thursday; ministers had announced last year the cancellations affected 30 areas and more than 4.5 million people due to local government reorganisation.
- Election administrators warned local councils face an 'uphill struggle' to organise reinstated votes in under three months, while the Government pledged up to £63 million to 21 local areas and agreed to pay Reform UK claimant's legal costs of about £100,000.
- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for Steve Reed to face scrutiny, urging resignation while Conservative MPs demanded disclosure of evidence behind the delay and Stephen Kinnock defended Mr Reed.
- Local leaders say the reversal complicates reorganisation timetables, and the Local Government Secretary will shortly set out funding details.
10 Articles
10 Articles
Evening Standard
Minister defends Reed amid calls for him to resign over local elections U-turn
Stephen Kinnock said Steve Reed was doing ‘an excellent job’ amid widespread criticism after the move to abandon plans to delay 30 ballots.
Warnings over elections u-turn implications for LGR
Sector leaders have raised concerns the government's decision to reverse the cancellation of 30 sets of elections could affect plans for local government reorganisation. The government yesterday said it would withdraw its proposals not to go ahead with elections to 30 councils in areas affected…The post Warnings over elections u-turn implications for LGR appeared first on Local Government Chronicle (LGC).
Another U-Turn as plans to cancel England’s council elections reversed
‘DEMOCRACY IS NOT AN INEFFICIENCY’ With local government reorganisation looming in England, Local Government Secretary Steve Reed controversially approved delays in 30 council elections in England until 2027. However Reform UK launched a legal challenge to this decision, and the Government has now been forced to abandon plans to postpone elections after receiving advice that the move could be unlawful. Florence Eshalomi, Chair of Westminster’s H…
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