Dawlish Discussion

Labour run council postpones may elections as they fear an electoral wipe out......

Tory councils are doing the same, the uniparty is terrified of what is coming.

So are the Lib dumbs. Some have now been postponed 2 years running. Corrupt to the core.

The primary beneficiaries of delaying local elections appear to be existing political incumbents, particularly Labour and Conservative councillors in areas where elections are postponed, as they avoid facing voters during a period of low party popularity.

According to analysis, Labour and the Conservatives are expected to suffer losses in local elections due to declining support since their 2021–2022 highs, while Reform UK, the Greens, and Liberal Democrats are poised to gain.

The Labour government also benefits by avoiding potentially damaging electoral results in 2026 and by gaining extra time to reorganise local government structures under its devolution agenda.

However, this comes at the cost of democratic accountability, as over 2.5 million voters are disenfranchised.

Critics argue the delays serve partisan interests, especially since Labour-controlled councils make up the majority of those postponing elections.

The Institute for Government (IfG) has stated the justification falls short, noting the government set the original timetable and that delays risk appearing politically motivated rather than administratively necessary.

Meanwhile, Reform UK is a major loser, missing a key opportunity to expand its local influence.

The four affected devolution areas also lose £215 million in investment funds between 2026 and 2028 due to the absence of elected mayors, harming local economic development.