Labour Sparks Fury By Postponing Six New Mayoral Elections
London – The Labour government has provoked a furious political backlash after it was revealed that six major mayoral elections planned for 2026 will be postponed by two years. The decision has drawn immediate and fierce condemnation from both Reform UK's Nigel Farage and the Liberal Democrats.
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Voters across a swath of southern England, including Essex, Hampshire, Sussex, Brighton, Norfolk, and Suffolk, were set to elect new regional mayors in 2026 as part of the government's flagship devolution agenda. However, it emerged last night that these inaugural polls will now be pushed back to 2028.
Government ministers are preparing to officially blame the delay on the complexities of ongoing local council reorganisations required to establish the new combined authorities. To underscore their continued commitment to the devolution project, ministers will announce a substantial long-term funding package, pledging £200 million every year for the next three decades to empower the new mayors once they are in post.
Despite the financial commitment, the delay was met with outrage from opposition figures, who see it as part of a worrying trend. This marks the second time the government has deferred major votes. Earlier this year, a number of local council elections in southern England were also postponed by a year, a move that similarly drew accusations of political maneuvering.
Nigel Farage, who has been a vocal critic of the government's electoral scheduling, expressed his anger at the news. His Reform UK party had viewed the upcoming local and mayoral elections as a critical opportunity to build its support base and secure a political foothold.
Following the previous postponements, Reform UK accused both the Labour and Conservative parties of colluding to disenfranchise voters, claiming the decision had, "officially cancelled over 5.5 million votes". The latest delay affecting the six new mayoralties is set to deepen the party's sense that it is being deliberately denied opportunities to test its electoral strength. The Liberal Democrats have echoed these concerns, joining the chorus of criticism against the government's decision to delay the democratic process.
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Voters across a swath of southern England, including Essex, Hampshire, Sussex, Brighton, Norfolk, and Suffolk, were set to elect new regional mayors in 2026 as part of the government's flagship devolution agenda. However, it emerged last night that these inaugural polls will now be pushed back to 2028.
Government ministers are preparing to officially blame the delay on the complexities of ongoing local council reorganisations required to establish the new combined authorities. To underscore their continued commitment to the devolution project, ministers will announce a substantial long-term funding package, pledging £200 million every year for the next three decades to empower the new mayors once they are in post.
Despite the financial commitment, the delay was met with outrage from opposition figures, who see it as part of a worrying trend. This marks the second time the government has deferred major votes. Earlier this year, a number of local council elections in southern England were also postponed by a year, a move that similarly drew accusations of political maneuvering.
Nigel Farage, who has been a vocal critic of the government's electoral scheduling, expressed his anger at the news. His Reform UK party had viewed the upcoming local and mayoral elections as a critical opportunity to build its support base and secure a political foothold.
Following the previous postponements, Reform UK accused both the Labour and Conservative parties of colluding to disenfranchise voters, claiming the decision had, "officially cancelled over 5.5 million votes". The latest delay affecting the six new mayoralties is set to deepen the party's sense that it is being deliberately denied opportunities to test its electoral strength. The Liberal Democrats have echoed these concerns, joining the chorus of criticism against the government's decision to delay the democratic process.
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