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UK Government Considers Postponing Mayoral Elections in Four Regions to 2028
The UK Government plans to delay inaugural mayoral elections in four English regions to 2028, citing local government reorganisation; over 7.5 million voters affected, critics allege political motives.
- On Thursday, ministers are expected to announce that Keir Starmer's government will postpone newly created mayoral elections due in May 2026 to 2028, affecting Cumbria, Cheshire & Warrington, Norfolk & Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex & Brighton, and Hampshire & Solent.
- Rising support for Reform UK and Nigel Farage prompted officials to cite an Ipsos poll this month showing Labour at 18 per cent and Reform above 33 per cent, while local councils undergoing reorganisation need more time.
- Briefing notes seen by The Independent show ministers will delay three mayoral elections to 2028, including Essex and Norfolk and Suffolk, reverting from first-past-the-post to proportional supplementary vote under Labour's local government reforms.
- Reform and opposition parties reacted angrily, with Zia Yusuf calling it `a blatant attempt to stop big Reform wins next May`, Conservatives urging reversal, and Liberal Democrats pledging to keep the vote on schedule.
- This marks a second postponement for these areas, raising questions about repeated delays and prompting eleven Welsh Labour MSs to accuse the UK Government of rolling back the devolution settlement and objecting to the Pride in Place programme.
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Government set to delay four new mayoral elections in England
·London, United Kingdom
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Reform blasts Labour for delaying mayoral elections
Well, well, well. Labour’s decision to cancel four mayoral elections by two years is not going down well, to put it lightly. The government has pushed back elections due to take place in May – in Essex, Hampshire and the Solent, Sussex and Brighton, and Norfolk and Suffolk – until 2028. Sir Keir Starmer’s crowd
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources31
Leaning Left7Leaning Right5Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution39% Left
Bias Distribution
- 39% of the sources lean Left
39% Left
L 39%
C 33%
R 28%
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