Councils shake-up: Will local elections face further delays?

It might be the festive season, but there’s fury in the corridors of power following a row which broke out regarding proposals that would see local elections delayed for a second year in a row for millions of voters. 

It comes as the government plans to abolish the two-tier system of district and county councils, creating a swathe of new local authorities that will be responsible for delivering services in their areas from 2028. 

In total, ministers have written to a total of 63 councils scheduled to hold elections in May 2026, although we won’t know for sure if they’re postponed until January.

The Standard’s Chief Political Correspondent Rachael Burford is here with the latest. 

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