Debate Over Postponement of Local Elections Amid Reorganisation in Devon
Plymouth City Council elections are scheduled to proceed as planned in May 2026. The council comprises 57 seats, with Labour holding 39. In the upcoming election, 19 seats will be contested: 10 Labour, 5 Conservative, 1 Liberal Democrat, 1 Green, and 2 Independents. Acting leader Jemima Laing confirmed that preparations are well advanced and the election will go ahead.
In contrast, Exeter City Council elections may be postponed. Thirteen of its 39 seats are due for election, but council leader Phil Bialyk intends to discuss the possibility of postponement with the chief executive before making a final decision.
The UK government has invited councils to apply to delay May elections due to ongoing local government reorganisation. Affected councils must submit requests by 15 January. Julian Brazil, the Liberal Democrat leader of Devon County Council, praised Plymouth's decision to proceed with elections and urged Exeter to make a prompt decision. He criticized reorganisation costs and argued that any election postponement should be funded.
Devon County Council will convene a special meeting on 9 January to address the issue. The proposed local government reorganisation aims to abolish all county and district councils in England, establishing new authorities by May 2028.
The postponement proposal has drawn criticism from multiple parties. Labour cited concerns over councils potentially lacking the capacity to run elections amidst implementing reforms, sparking debate over the pace of change. There are worries that Exeter residents could be deprived of the opportunity to vote if postponement is authorized, reflecting broader tension over how these reforms might impact local representation.
