Conservative Councils Request Delay of Local Elections

A significant number of Conservative-led councils in England have requested to postpone local elections scheduled for May, sparking accusations from opposition parties, including the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK, that the Conservatives are attempting to evade electoral defeat. As of the deadline, 13 Tory councils have applied to delay elections to participate in a government devolution program aimed at restructuring local authorities. Critics argue that this move undermines democracy, with Liberal Democrats claiming that the Conservatives are 'running scared' following recent electoral losses in previously safe seats. Reform UK has voiced similar concerns, asserting that the Tory councils are colluding with Labour to stifle voters' rights. The government has stated that postponements will only be considered if councils formally request them, yet the majority of requests come from Conservative-led areas. This situation has raised alarm over the integrity of the electoral process amid ongoing political turmoil in the UK.