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:
Continue reading “Labour Confirms 29 Local Elections Cancelled”
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”