Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced backlash from councils after the government was forced to abandoned plans to postpone local elections for councils in May in yet another U-turn.
Labour had initially announced plans to cancel elections in 30 areas this year, impacting 4.5 million people, in order to free up “capacity” to undertake an overhaul of council structures.
Several councils have called the U-turn “extremely disappointing”, with Laura Lock, deputy chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, pointing out election workers “have lost months of essential planning time for reinstated May 7 elections."
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) spokesperson said the decision came after “legal advice” following a challenge from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who said “we took this Labour government to court and won.”
Mr Farage has suggested that local governments secretary Steve Reed should resign following the row over council elections.
“I think for a minister to do something that is clearly unlawful, otherwise they would not have gone and withdrawn themselves from the case on Thursday… Seems to me that if a Government minister does something illegal, they really ought to resign.”
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key points
- Starmer abandons plans to cancel May council elections in latest U-turn
- £63 million made available to local authorities undergoing change during election
- Farage refuses to apologise for taxpayer cost of footing bill for legal fees and election
- Councils 'welcomed' additional funding following govt U-turn
- Reform UK chairman: 'It's a matter of if, not when' Starmer goes as PM
What to expect today?
07:00 , Bryony Gooch- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage will be announcing members of his party’s shadow cabinet team at a Westminster press conference.
- There will be a hearing for MP Rupert Lowe’s legal challenge against parliamentary watchdog.
- Rupert Lowe, the independent MP for Great Yarmouth, is seeking to take High Court legal action against the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme over its decision last July to investigate a complaint made against him.
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Watch: Keir Starmer denies knowledge of Labour Together-linked ‘probe’ into journalists
03:00 , Bryony GoochFarage refuses to apologise for taxpayer cost of footing bill for legal fees and election
02:00 , Bryony GoochAsked if he should apologise for the potential cost to taxpayers of both footing the bill for legal fees and of holding the elections that had been due for postponement, Mr Farage said: “The idea I should apologise because it costs money to hold elections in a country where one-and-a-quarter million people died in two world wars so that we could be a free democracy, I won’t even begin to apologise.
“That is our system. That is our way. We choose the people that represent us, tax us, make decisions on our behalf, and once every few years, we’ve the right to judge them and get rid of them. That is the very basis of how modern Britain works.”
Starmer abandons plans to cancel May council elections in latest U-turn
01:00 , Bryony Gooch Starmer abandons plans to cancel May council elections in latest U-turn
Where in the country had their elections postponed?
00:00 , Bryony GoochCity councils in Lincoln, Exeter, Norwich, Peterborough and Preston had been among those where ballots were not to take place on May 7, alongside several districts such as Cannock Chase, Harlow, Welwyn Hatfield and West Lancashire.
Polling day had also been postponed for county council voters in East Sussex, West Sussex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
£63 million made available to local authorities undergoing change during election
Monday 16 February 2026 23:00 , Bryony GoochSome £63 million will be made available to local authorities undergoing structural changes as the government has abandoned plans to postpone elections across 30 councils this May after receiving advice from lawyers following a legal challenge from Reform UK.
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed had approved proposals to delay the polls to help deliver a major reorganisation of local authorities.
“I recognise that many of the local councils undergoing reorganisation voiced genuine concerns about the pressure they are under as we seek to deliver the most ambitious reforms of local government in a generation,” Mr Reed said.
“My officials will be in touch with those affected councils to understand if any further practical support will be required.”
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Monday 16 February 2026 21:00 , Bryony GoochJosh Simons must temporarily step down while Labour Together investigated, say Lib Dems
Monday 16 February 2026 20:00 , Bryony GoochResponding to the Cabinet Office's investigation into the Labour Together scandal, which saw the think tank under Josh Simons MP's leadership commission research into journalists' “funding and origins”, Liberal Democrat cabinet office spokesperson Lisa Smart MP said:
“I’m appalled by reports of smear tactics by a party that promised to make politics cleaner than clean. It looks like the group that credits itself with getting Labour into government has carried out an outrageous attack on our independent free press.
"Josh Simons should temporarily step down as Cabinet Office minister while the investigation takes place to avoid any conflict of interest.”
Councils 'welcomed' additional funding following govt U-turn
Monday 16 February 2026 19:45 , Bryony GoochCouncils across England have “welcomed” additional funding provided by the UK Government after it abandoned plans to postpone local elections.
Plans to delay the elections for 30 local authorities while they are undergoing structural changes had been approved by the Government before a legal challenge from Reform UK, which then saw the Government withdraw the decision following legal advice.
Some £62 million will be made available to those local authorities now once again expected to run elections in May this year.
Spokespeople for Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) and Worthing Borough Council (WBC) have both welcomed the additional funding, and said their elections will proceed as planned.
Councillor Richard Henry, leader of the Labour-run SBC, said: “Although I am surprised at this announcement, our council welcomes the £63 million additional capacity funding being made available to local councils going through local government reorganisation.
“This funding will help increase capacity to manage this complex reorganisation, while continuing to deliver our ambitious plans to make Stevenage even better, and running local elections.”
Rosindell calls for 'radical action' on immigration
Monday 16 February 2026 19:43 , Harriette BoucherReform UK MP Andrew Rosindell has renewed calls to repeal the Human Rights Act and leave the European Convention on Human Rights.
During a rally in Romford, Mr Rosindell, who defected to the party in January, said the government had failed to lower immigration numbers and told the audience there was a need for “radical action”.
“There is now a need for radical action, because legal migration at its current scale is not sustainable,” he said.
“Contrary to what the Treasury might tell us, it is making us all poorer.
“Our politicians have completely lost control of our borders...Any country that cannot protect its borders is not a country in any meaningful sense.
“If we are serious, there is only one course of action, we must repeal the Human Rights Act, we must leave the European Convention on Human Rights, and restore to our parliament the authority to act in the national interest.
“Once that authority is restored, we must begin the process of mass deportation for every individual who has entered this county illegally.”
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Lincoln council leader says election planning to 'resume immediately
Monday 16 February 2026 19:15 , Bryony GoochThe leader of a council has said planning for the May election will now “resume immediately” after the Government said it will go ahead as initially planned.
Councillor Naomi Tweddle, leader of City of Lincoln Council, said: “Following the Government’s decision to withdraw its plans to postpone May’s elections we want to reassure residents that our election planning is well advanced.
“We were awaiting the outcome of the judicial review and, therefore, had retained venue bookings, staffing and print arrangements.
“As a result, planning for the May election can now resume immediately. Local government reorganisation remains a key priority for the council.
“This will require significant preparation and capacity, our focus remains on ensuring the process delivers the best possible outcomes for residents and is implemented safely, responsibly, and effectively.”
A spokesperson from Hastings Borough Council said: “In light of the news that the Secretary of State has withdrawn the decision to postpone local elections, Hastings Borough Council is now working to put arrangements in place to deliver both the borough council and East Sussex County Council elections on 7 May 2026.”
Watch: Keir Starmer denies knowledge of Labour Together-linked ‘probe’ into journalists
Monday 16 February 2026 19:00 , Bryony GoochReform UK chairman: 'It's a matter of if, not when' Starmer goes as PM
Monday 16 February 2026 18:37 , Bryony Gooch“ It's now not a matter of if Keir Starmer goes, it's when Keir Starmer goes,” Dr David Bull, chairman of Reform UK has said as part of a rally in Romford.
He said that according to the latest figures, if there was a general election tomorrow, Reform UK would gain between 377 to 450 parliamentary seats.
“Make no mistake, the old parties are finished.”
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Reform UK chair says establishment will be 'punished' in local elections
Monday 16 February 2026 18:23 , Bryony GoochReform UK chair Dr David Bull has said that the government will be “punished” by the public as local elections are set to continue, a “seismic victory” for the party.
“We have won a seismic victory against the government thanks to our sheer determination to fight for democracy. The government tried to cancel elections,” he said at a rally in Romford.
“It is almost unbelievable, isn't it? The government tried to cancel elections in 30 areas of the country, which would have denied the vote for millions of people.
“Now we argue that only dictators cancel elections. We fought the government, and ladies and gentlemen, we have won.
“Let me tell you something else. Make no mistake, when these elections are held, the public will punish the establishment unlike anything we have ever seen before.”
Councils 'ready to deliver' local elections after govt U-turn
Monday 16 February 2026 18:00 , Bryony GoochCouncils are “ready to deliver” local elections in May after plans to postpone them for 30 councils across England were abandoned by the UK Government.
Thurrock Council and Preston City Council (PCC) were both hoping to postpone their upcoming local elections amid the added pressure of local government reorganisation.
Spokespeople for both councils have insisted that despite the Government’s decision to reverse the plans after receiving legal advice, they will be able to manage the elections this spring.
The leader of Labour-run Thurrock Council, Lynn Worrall, said: “Whilst it is disappointing that this decision has been reversed so late in the day, we have always stood ready to deliver all-out elections in Thurrock this May, and we will now move forward with our plans.
“Capacity remains a challenge, and so we welcome today’s announcement that more funding will be released to support councils going through significant and complex change.”
Adrian Philips, chief executive and returning officer at PCC, said: “We have a highly professional and experienced elections team that has already undertaken extensive planning and preparation for 2026 elections, and we are confident in our ability to successfully deliver the local elections on 7th May without any negative impact on the elections budget.”
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Monday 16 February 2026 17:45 , Bryony Gooch Chorley council leader says they will 'move forward' with election preparation
Monday 16 February 2026 17:30 , Bryony GoochThe leader of a council has said it will “move forward” in preparation for an election in May after the Government announced it was abandoning plans to delay the polls.
Councillor Alistair Bradley, leader of Chorley Council, said: “We recognise the high bar that should be placed on postponing local elections and shared the concern with other authorities that conducting local elections in May 2026 would mean that vital services for residents, along with the local government reorganisation process, could be affected.
“We do, however, recognise that it is a government decision, and will move forward in preparation for an election in May as directed.”
Councillor Munsif Dad, leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, said the authority respects the decision made by the Government.
He said: “As previously stated, the decision regarding whether or not local government elections would go ahead in May was a decision for the Government. We respect the decision now taken.
“The council will run the May 2026 local elections as normal.”
Association of Electoral Administrators lament lost months of essential planning time
Monday 16 February 2026 17:15 , Bryony GoochLaura Lock, deputy chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, said: “We are extremely disappointed returning officers, electoral registration officers and electoral administration teams have lost months of essential planning time for reinstated May 7 elections.
“Local elections are highly complex, far more so than a general election for instance. These teams now face an uphill struggle to catch up to where they should be. They have paused planning to avoid unnecessary cost, but this means they are now playing catch up.
“It’s also important to stress this decision affects far more councils than the 30 holding elections. County councils do not run elections themselves; they rely on district councils to deliver them.
“It’s actually 47 teams who now have to rapidly mobilise after previously being told to stand down, with some due to run elections for both their district and county at the same time.
“We must also highlight the impact on election suppliers, particularly printers and mailing services. The tonnes of paper needed for poll cards, postal votes and ballot papers is ordered months ahead. This sudden change places significant pressure on already tight production and delivery windows.
“We note the UK Government is offering additional capacity funding to the local areas undergoing reorganisation. We hope there will also be additional funding made available to cover any increased elections costs for these polls. Alternative polling station and count venues may be needed, and extra spending should not have to be borne by local government when it is incurred due to a central Government row back.”
The 30 local councils where elections will now go ahead in May after Starmer’s latest U-turn
Monday 16 February 2026 17:00 , Bryony Gooch The 30 local councils where elections will now go ahead in May after Starmer U-turn
Local authorities 'experiencing whiplash' from govt
Monday 16 February 2026 16:45 , Bryony GoochLocal authorities are “experiencing whiplash” from the UK government decisions which make it “almost impossible” to plan effectively for residents, a council leader has said.
Following a legal challenge brought by Reform UK, the Government has abandoned plans to postpone elections for 30 local authorities in May this year, one of which was Suffolk County Council (SCC).
The Conservative administration at SCC has called the current decision “surprising” as ministers and civil servants had “expressed confidence” in the initial plans.
SCC leader, councillor Matthew Hicks, said: “Local councils across the country are experiencing whiplash as major Government decisions shift repeatedly and without warning. This uncertainty makes it almost impossible to plan effectively, deliver stability for residents, or provide clarity for our staff and partners.
“There is now a significant question mark over the Government’s wider agenda for devolution and local government reorganisation.
“Certainly, as we previously set out in our letter to ministers, this makes delivering one new unitary council for Suffolk more difficult, and three nigh on impossible. Our priority in Suffolk remains to deliver reliable services, protect residents, and ensure our communities are not disadvantaged by national uncertainty.”
Farage calls for Steve Reed to resign
Monday 16 February 2026 16:30 , Bryony GoochNigel Farage suggested Steve Reed should resign following the row over council elections.
The Reform UK leader said on Monday: “I think for a minister to do something that is clearly unlawful, otherwise they would not have gone and withdrawn themselves from the case on Thursday… Seems to me that if a Government minister does something illegal, they really ought to resign.”
Farage claims Steve Reed 'acted illegally' over election postponement plans
Monday 16 February 2026 16:16 , Bryony GoochLocal government secretary Steve Reed “acted illegally” over abandoned plans to postpone elections across 30 councils this May, Nigel Farage has said.
Speaking to reporters, the Reform UK leader said: “I think the principle of no taxation without representation is a very well-known one through political history, and that’s what was happening here.
“We’d even seen a few people starting to refuse to pay their council tax up and down the country.
“But what I do think now is the minister, Steve Reed, has clearly acted illegally, and given that the Government’s now given in, knew they’d lose to us in court, I think Steve Reed’s question as a minister should now be debated.”
Mr Farage added: “We took a risk on this, but we knew it was the right thing to do. I thought we’d get a partial victory.
“I thought ones that were delayed for a second year in a row, we’d probably win that. But this is now a complete victory, and there’ll be a lot of people up down the country very grateful to us.”
Farage calls govt U-turn a 'victory for democracy'
Monday 16 February 2026 16:12 , Bryony GoochNigel Farage said the Government’s U-turn was a “victory for democracy in this country”.
“It’s a victory for Reform, but more importantly, it’s a victory for democracy in this country,” the Reform UK leader said during a visit on Monday.
“We are delighted.”
Priti Patel: Councils thrown into 'confusion and chaos' due to Labour
Monday 16 February 2026 16:00 , Bryony GoochShadow foreign secretary Priti Patel has accused Labour of throwing councils into “confusion and chaos” with their latest U-turn.
“Labour is playing fast and loose with local democracy and Keir Starmer and Steve Reed have thrown councils into confusion and chaos.
“It's time they apologised and accepted responsibility for the mess they've created.”
Labour is playing fast and loose with local democracy and Keir Starmer and Steve Reed have thrown councils into confusion and chaos.
— Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) February 16, 2026
It's time they apologised and accepted responsibility for the mess they've created.
Badenoch criticises 'U-turn after U-turn' government
Monday 16 February 2026 15:45 , Bryony GoochKemi Badenoch criticised “U-turn after U-turn after U-turn” following the Government’s decision to abandon plans for a postponement of some council elections this May.
The Tory leader wrote on X: “Predictable chaos from a useless government that cannot make basic decisions.
“The legal mess is no surprise and one of the reasons why Conservatives (with a couple of exceptions who now look really silly) opposed the move to delay council elections for a second year in a row”.
She added: “The incompetence of Angela Rayner (the supposed leader-in-waiting) who started this when she was running that department has now been exposed.
“This is a zombie government. U-turn after U-turn after U-turn.
“No plan or programme to deliver anything. Even the simple stuff that should be business as usual gets messed up.”
Council leader says govt has 'wasted everyone's time'
Monday 16 February 2026 15:30 , Bryony GoochA council leader has criticised the Government for “wasting everyone’s time” but insisted that the reinstated local elections will not create unexpected costs.
Norfolk County Council (NCC) is one of the 30 local authorities who were expecting to postpone their elections in May this year.
The Conservative-run authority, which last held elections in May 2021, has said that it had planned for the Government’s decision to reinstate the elections.
The leader of NCC, councillor Kay Mason Billig said: “I note the Government’s change of mind on yet another decision it couldn’t stick to – wasting everyone’s time.
“We had already budgeted for and were planning for elections, so we can now proceed.”
Peterborough City Council (PCC), another administration hoping to suspend its elections, has said it had also planned for this outcome.
