UK Government Reinstates May 2026 Local Elections After U-Turn

The UK government has confirmed that all 30 local council elections originally scheduled for May 2026 will now take place as planned, following a reversal of its earlier postponement decision.

This development affects councils across England, including those in Sussex, where elections had previously been cancelled for a second consecutive year and were not expected until at least 2027.

On 16 February 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced the reinstatement of the elections. The government stated that £63 million in new funding will be provided to support councils in 21 areas undergoing local government reorganisation, enabling them to resume election preparations.

Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, wrote to the High Court and council leaders to confirm the withdrawal of the postponement decision. He invited councils to urgently reconsider their election planning in light of the updated position.

What the numbers show

• 30 local council elections were affected by the original postponement decision
• £63 million in additional funding was allocated to 21 reorganisation areas
• Elections in Sussex and other councils are scheduled for 7 May 2026

The initial postponement had impacted 29 councils as part of a wider local government restructuring process, with Pendle later added as the 30th affected council. The decision to delay elections was taken to allow councils to focus on reorganisation efforts.

Reform UK initiated a judicial review challenging the legality of the postponement, which preceded the government's reversal. The legal action was cited as a factor in the government's decision to reinstate the elections.

Local council leaders across England have stated that the reversal has created logistical challenges, as councils now have just over 11 weeks to prepare for the polls. They described the situation as an "unnecessary race against time" to organise the elections.

Industry reaction

Council leaders have stated that the short timeframe for preparation will place considerable logistical pressure on local authorities. Their comments reflect concerns about the ability to deliver elections effectively within the revised schedule.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced the funding package to assist councils in managing the reorganisation process and reinstating election planning activities.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.