New mayoral elections postponed in two regions of England

The UK government is preparing to postpone the inaugural elections for newly established mayoral positions in certain areas of Southern England. Sources within local councils confirm that two out of four regions originally scheduled to vote in May 2026Essex and the combined counties of Norfolk and Suffolkwill now hold elections at a later, unspecified date.

Opposition politicians have urged that the elections proceed as planned. Shadow local government secretary James Cleverly accused Labour of "undermining democratic processes," emphasizing concerns over the delay.

These mayoral roles were introduced in February as part of the government's expanded devolution initiative, promising extensive powers to local authorities to accelerate regional growth. The announcement at the time highlighted that the new positions would be established "swiftly" as part of the programmes priority agenda.

There are also indications that elections for mayors in Sussex and Hampshire may face similar postponements. The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government declined to comment on the reports, citing ongoing internal discussions.

Zia Yusuf of Reform UK suggested that the delay might be politically motivated, aimed at curbing potential gains for his party, while Labours support remains lower in polls. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrats local government spokesperson Zoe Franklin stressed the importance of holding the vote as planned, stating, "Democracy delayed is democracy denied."

The government has not clarified the reasons for the postponements. When first announced, the elections were part of a plan to introduce six new mayoral areas under the devolution programme. Officials emphasized that these roles were critical for unlocking regional growth after years of centralised decision-making in Whitehall. Critics, however, warned that the creation of larger "mega-councils" could disrupt local governance.

Earlier, elections for Cumbria and the soon-to-be merged councils of Cheshire and Warrington were scheduled for May 2026 but have also been deferredCumbrias to reduce costs and Cheshire-Warringtons due to local leadership concerns.

Author: Olivia Parker