County council asked for views on delaying election

Suffolk County Council is among 63 authorities being invited by the government to give their views on postponing next May's local elections.

A council spokesperson confirmed it was among them and that its "cabinet will consider that question on 12 January, informed by a full-council debate".

Local government minister Alison McGovern told Parliament that "should a council say they have no reason to delay their elections, there will be no delay. If a council voices genuine concerns we'll take these issues seriously".

Andrew Stringer, leader of the council's Green, Liberal Democrat and Independents opposition group, said: "Democracy delayed is democracy denied."

Councils across Suffolk are currently undergoing reorganisation. The two-tier county, borough and district councils will be combined into single unitary bodies.

At the same time, Suffolk and Norfolk are part of a programme that will see them share a mayor. The mayoral election was due to happen in May next year but has now been postponed to May 2028.

The ongoing restructuring process meant that Suffolk County Council elections this year were also postponed.

Stringer said: "The Conservative administration should be willing to stand on its record before the electorate.

"If any of the Conservative councillors vote to postpone these elections again, they would be wide open to the accusation that they care less about serving the people of Suffolk and more... with saving their political skins."

The council spokesperson said: "Decisions on the timing of local elections sit entirely with the government.

"However, ministers have now asked 63 councils going through reorganisation to set out their views on the potential postponement of their local election, and if they consider this could release essential capacity to deliver reorganisation in their area.

"Accordingly, our cabinet will consider that question on 12 January, informed by a full-council debate involving all councillors on the same day."

Ipswich Borough Council is also due to hold an election in May for a third of its seats. It has previously told the BBC it expects the vote to go ahead.

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