May 2026 Local Elections Confirmed to Proceed

Following legal advice, the Secretary of State has withdrawn his original decision to postpone 30 local elections due to take place in May 2026. 

He has written to council leaders and key stakeholders to confirm this decision. 

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) will take the necessary steps to revoke the secondary legislation in Parliament to ensure that?all local elections will now go ahead in May 2026.

The government has confirmed that up to £63 million in new capacity funding will be made available to help local councils across the 21 reorganisation areas to best deliver local government re-organisation, building on the £7.6 million provided for developing proposals last year.

Read the letter here