More than 20 England council elections likely to be delayed until 2027

Over 30% of England's local authorities are at risk of having their elections delayed until 2027 due to the government's overhaul of local government, a move that will merge two-tier councils into single unitary councils. This restructuring aims to improve efficiency in delivering services such as social care and is expected to have a significant impact on the democratic process.

According to administrators, 27 out of 63 eligible council areas have requested postponements to their elections this year, citing concerns over their ability to effectively deliver the changes. The reasons for these delays are varied, with some councils being already facing financial and resource challenges.

The delay has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it undermines the democratic process and gives politicians an unfair advantage by allowing them to stay in office for longer than usual. Labour councillors have expressed particular concerns about this, as they are unlikely to face re-election due to the postponements.

However, proponents of the change claim that cancelling elections would save time and resources that could be better spent on frontline services such as fixing potholes and social care. The government argues that the reorganisation will transform democratic accountability and introduce more effective decision-making.

The postponement has also led to clashes between council members and protesters, with some councillors facing criticism for their handling of the situation. In one notable incident, a Labour councillor was accused of using derogatory language towards a member of the public during a heated meeting at Redditch borough council.

Ultimately, the fate of these elections will be decided by government ministers, who are expected to approve the requested postponements in the coming days.

omg what a mess the whole thing just feels so unfair lol if 27 councils cant even handle the change then how can we trust them? and now its gonna take till 2027 to sort it all out that's like forever but at the same time i get where they're coming from, efficiency is key and social care and whatnot can be super overwhelming so maybe this is a necessary evil?

I'm all about efficiency and effectiveness, you know? If merging councils is gonna save time and resources for frontline services, I'm totally down with that . But, at the same time, can't we find a way to make it work without disrupting the democratic process? I mean, 30% of councils being delayed till 2027 is a big deal . It's gonna affect a lot of people's lives and it's not fair to them if they don't get to have their say on who represents them for another two years.

And, let's be real, Labour councillors are already worried about re-election? That's just politics as usual . But, seriously, what's the point of having representatives if we can't trust them to handle situations like this professionally? It's not like they're gonna fix all these issues on their own . I just hope the government does some proper research and planning before making a decision that's gonna affect so many people...

Ugh this is just getting out of hand! 30% of local authorities can't even handle a bit of restructuring? Can't they see that democracy is supposed to be about change and progress, not just clinging to power for longer than necessary? And now people are going to end up protesting in the streets because politicians can't even be bothered to get their act together. It's so frustrating when you think that some of these council members would actually care about helping the public, but instead they're more worried about staying in office.

This overhaul of local government is really throwing everything into chaos! I think it's wild that 30% of councils are at risk of having their elections delayed - that's a huge chunk of our democracy being put on hold. And the reasons for these delays, from financial to resource challenges, just goes to show how much of an impact this change will have on already-strained local services.

It's interesting to see how both sides are arguing over this - the critics saying it undermines democracy and politicians get a free pass, while those in support say it'll save time and resources for frontline services. I mean, who gets to decide what matters most? But the thing that really gets me is the clashes between councillors and protesters - we're supposed to be having a conversation about how to improve our lives, not getting into heated arguments.

It's also super concerning to see councillors using derogatory language towards the public. That just shows a complete lack of respect for democratic processes and the people who are affected by these changes. I guess only time will tell if this reorganisation actually leads to better decision-making or more problems down the line...

you know what's crazy here? We're so caught up in the drama and controversy that we forget why we have local gov elections in the first place... it's supposed to give the people a say in how their community is run! but now, with these delays, it feels like they're just kicking the can down the road... instead of having a real conversation about what changes need to be made, we're stuck in a cycle of who can stay in power for longer. what's the point of democracy if we're not actively participating in it? we need to hold our politicians accountable and make sure they're working for us, not just for their own interests... otherwise, what's the point?

Ugh I'm really worried about this... like, think about it - we're talking 30% of councils at risk of having their elections delayed because of "efficiency" concerns . It's just not right that politicians can basically stay in office for longer without being held accountable by the people they represent . And what about the councillors who are already struggling with financial and resource challenges? Do we really want to add more stress to their lives during a time of change? I get that the gov is trying to make changes, but can't they do it in a way that still respects democracy and gives us a say in our local government? I just don't think this is the right approach...

I'm so worried about this . Delaying local gov elections for 2027? That's a huge power grab and undermines trust in our democratic system . It feels like they're giving politicians a free pass to stay in office too long without facing the people who voted them in . And what about the councils that are already struggling financially ? Can't we just find other ways to address those issues instead of pushing everything on the backburner ?

And have you seen the protests and clashes between council members and protesters? It's like a perfect storm of controversy . I get where they're coming from, but cancelling elections might not be the answer . How about finding ways to make frontline services more efficient without sacrificing democracy? Let's get back to basics and remember that our elected officials should be accountable to us, not just each other .

Can't we have a constructive conversation about this instead of all the drama and recrimination? I want to see some real solutions that benefit everyone .

this overhaul is such a massive shift, i'm worried about the impact on local communities... think about all those councils that are already struggling financially and now they're being asked to make these huge changes without even having a say in it? it's not just about the politicians staying in office longer, it's about the people who matter - the ones who use their services . i get what the government is trying to do, but can't they find a way to make it work with fewer delays? and honestly, some of these councillors sound like they need to work on their communication skills ... using derogatory language towards someone at a public meeting? that's just basic human decency .

I dont get why they need to rush into this change, its like trying to cram a square peg into a round hole. Remember when we used to have councils that were actually local? Now they're all just gonna be big faceless organizations... . Its just another way for the government to cut costs and make things more efficient without actually listening to the people who matter most - us, the constituents! I mean, what's wrong with a good old-fashioned election? It keeps our politicians on their toes and makes sure they're still accountable to the community... . This whole thing just feels like another example of them trying to take away our democracy piece by piece...

this is such a tricky situation...i think what's really worrying me is that it feels like they're putting politics over people...if councillors can just stay on forever without facing re-election, that's basically undemocratic right? and yeah, i get where they're coming from with the "saves time & resources" thing, but isn't that kind of a cop-out for when it comes to actual democracy? it's like, we want our councillors to be efficient & effective, but not at the cost of us having a say in who represents us... what do u think tho?

I'm not convinced this is about 'efficiency' and 'improving services'. It sounds like a convenient excuse to push through changes that might benefit the current gov't more than the people. What's really going on here? Have we seen similar moves in other countries? Where are the detailed plans and timelines for these merged councils? How will they impact local decision-making processes?

I'm also worried about the potential for 'councillor protection' at play. If Labour councillors don't stand a chance, what's to stop the gov't from using this as a tool to consolidate power? Transparency is key here - we need concrete info on the reasons behind these delays and how they'll benefit the public. Not just empty promises of 'transforming democratic accountability'.

omg u guys i just saw this news about england's local govt and im literally shook 30% of councils might not have their elections on time lol what is up with that?! i get where they're comin from tryin to make some changes and save resources but it seems like a bit too much power for the gov and now councillor is facin criticism for their behavior thats wild redditch borough council drama, tbh cant wait to see how this all plays out its def gonna be interestin

I'm not sure about this whole thing... like, I get that they wanna improve services and all, but delaying elections feels like a huge step back for democracy, you know? It's one thing to make changes, but it's another to just scrap the process entirely. What if people don't have a say in what's happening with their councils anymore? And yeah, I can see how the current system might be a bit inefficient, but isn't that kinda like the whole point of having elections - to shake things up and make sure everyone's on board? Also, what about all the councillors who are gonna be stuck in office for longer than usual? That can't be good for anyone...

Ugh, can't believe this ! They're just pushing the people around like pawns on a chessboard... I mean, what even is the point of having councils if they're just gonna get scrapped? Single unitary councils? Who cares?! It's all about saving face and time for the politicians, but what about the actual voters?! We're the ones who are being affected here!

And don't even get me started on Labour councillors... they're not exactly innocent themselves . I mean, come on, use derogatory language towards someone? Unbelievable! It's just another example of how politicians think they can bully their way to power without any consequences.

But seriously, this whole thing is a mess. The government's just playing games with our democracy and expecting us to be okay with it... no thanks . We need more transparency and accountability from these councils, not less! Can't they see that this reorganisation is just a power grab?!

[Image of a clock with a red 'X' through it]
[gif of a politician with a smug face, then suddenly having their expression change to one of panic]
[meme of a person trying to fix a pothole, but tripping and falling instead]
[Image of a news headline that says 'Elections Delayed... Again' with a series of previous election delays marked in the background like a list]
[gif of a council meeting with councillors arguing, then suddenly turning into a scene from The Matrix where they're all just NPCs following a script]

I'm sooo concerned about this . I get that efficiency is key and all, but do we really need to delay local elections like this? It's kinda like they're trying to sweep stuff under the rug instead of addressing the issues head-on. I mean, Labour councillors are already worried about losing their seats – what if this is a sign of things getting out of hand? And let's not forget those councils that are struggling financially... do we want them to be in such a vulnerable position?

I'm literally shocked by this whole thing . I get that efficiency is important and all, but delaying elections? It's like, what's the point of even having a council if you're just gonna delay the people from voting for them? And now I hear some councillors are already making derogatory comments to protesters... unprofessionalism at its finest . I mean, can't we just have a decent debate about it instead of resorting to name-calling? The government's all like "transforming democratic accountability" but all this drama is doing is alienating the public . Can't we just figure out a better way to merge councils without messing up our democracy?

OMG I'm literally shook about this local gov restructuring ! Like, can't they just give us some heads up instead of just pushing it through? The fact that 27 councils are asking for delays because they're still trying to figure out how to make these changes is wild . And now we're gonna have to deal with the fallout from cancelled elections...it's all just so chaotic . I'm not sure which side of this argument I'd even take, tbh . Part of me thinks it might be a good idea for some councils to focus on getting their financials in order, but another part of me is like...what about the people? Don't we deserve a say in who's running our local gov?