What do councillors say about postponed elections?

4 hours ago

Vikki IrwinSuffolk

News image — About 60 protesters gathered outside Endeavour House calling for elections to go ahead in May

Jamie Niblock/BBC A group of about 60 people standing in front of a glass building holding placards and protesting. The placards feature both Reform UK and Green Party logos/colours — About 60 protesters gathered outside Endeavour House calling for elections to go ahead in May

The government has postponed local elections for Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council.

Both councils responded to a request from the government to say if they would struggle to deliver local government reorganisation if elections in May went ahead.

Local elections for both councils had already been delayed from May 2025.

Of the 63 councils asked, 29 have had elections postponed and the rest will go ahead.

So how do local politicians feel about the decision?

'We answered the question'

Vikki Irwin/BBC Matthew Hicks is standing in a bright atrium, with a tree in the background. He is wearing a blue suit, a white and blue striped shirt and blue patterned tie. He is wearing glasses and smiling at the camera. — Matthew Hicks Conservative leader of Suffolk County Council has previously said freeing up capacity by not holding elections would "accelerate" their ability modernise local government.

Matthew Hicks, Conservative leader of Suffolk County Council, said the authority "was asked to provide information to help ministers come to an informed decision, and we answered the question they set".

"Alongside delivering local government reorganisation, we will now continue to work hard for Suffolk residents, focusing on their and our priorities - like improving our roads, improving Send services and ensuring vulnerable residents continue to receive the best possible support."

Leader of the Labour group, Sandy Martin, said: "Labour county councillors were not in a position to tell whether having elections this year would get in the way of making that (local government reorganisation) happen, but the council and the government have agreed that they would."

'A shabby stitch-up'

Vikki Irwin/BBC Andy Mellen is standing outside on a a raised bed of flowers between two buildings. He is wearing a Green tweed jacket with blue and white checked shirt. — Andy Mellen is a Green county councillor and called the postponement "very, very disappointing"

Andy Mellen is a Green Party county councillor.

He said: "I think this is a very, very disappointing day for democracy in Suffolk.

"I think this is a very shabby stitch-up between a Labour government and a Conservative county council, neither of which are prepared to face the electorate."

He pointed out that councillors elected in 2021 would make decisions for another two years, "without any kind of democratic mandate".

"I think I'm very, very disappointed by this decision and I'm sure the residents of Suffolk will be as well," he said.

'Give people a vote'

Jamie Niblock/BBC A head and shoulders image of Chris Hudson. He is wearing glasses and a blazer over a shirt and tie. He is looking into the camera. — Suffolk's Reform UK recently won a county council by-election

The Reform UK leader at Suffolk County Council, Chris Hudson, said: "I think it is an appalling travesty against democracy.

"I say free the people, give them a vote."

He added: "This is just a process from the government to stop the people voting. It is not a good idea. It doesn't look very good and I think it deprives the people of their, if you like, God-given right to vote."

"I believe that democracy should always trump process and it is not happening at the moment."

'A lesson learned'

Contributed Inga Lockington is standing in front of a wall covered in patterned wall paper of green leaves. She is wearing a multi-coloured patterned jumper with a black roll neck underneath. It is a head shot and Inga is wearing glasses and looking straight at the camera. — Inga Lockington, who sits on both councils, said: "Elections and democracy are important"

Inga Lockington is a Liberal Democrat councillor who has seats on both Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council.

She said: "Elections and democracy are important. It is in our name, Liberal Democrats, we believe in democracy, and elections are important."

Lockington has not been impressed by the way the postponement has been handled, adding: "It has really been a mess because if the labour government wanted to cancel, they should have done that from the start so people knew where they were.

"Elections are important so I hope this will be a lesson learned for government."

'A point of principle'

John Fairhall/BBC Ian Fisher smiles at the camera outside a GP medical practice. He has short dark hair and wears a blue suit, white shirt and a gold tie. Some bushes can be seen around him outside the GP. — Ian Fisher said holding elections was "one of the most important things" councils did

Ian Fisher is the Conservative group leader at Ipswich Borough Council.

He said: "One of the most important things that councils do is hold elections.

"And all of us councillors are only voted in by the public, we're voted in for a set period of time.

"Personally speaking, if I was in control of a council, I would say that holds more importance than anything else."

He went on to explain how his opinion may differ from others in his party in Suffolk.

"I know full well that my stance has put me at odds with some of my colleagues, but if I am on a point of principle, I'm on a point of principle."

John Fairhall/BBC Neil MacDonald standing outside by a waterfront, by a pair of purple binoculars, he is looking slightly off to the camera, with glasses on and a top with a jacket over the top. He has a bald head, with grey hair at the sides. Boats are behind him and several buildings. — The leader of Ipswich Borough Council, Neil MacDonald, said he was pleased ministers had listened

Local Government Secretary Steve Reed told the House of Commons he had listened "carefully" to 350 representations about whether the elections should go ahead - and confirmed legislation to allow postponement for 29 councils would now be brought forward.

"In all other areas, council elections will go ahead as planned, many having offered no evidence that it would delay reorganisation in their areas," he said.

He added that the delays were needed so the issue of duplication across local government could be tackled.

Neil MacDonald is the leader of Labour-run Ipswich Borough Council and made representations to the government to say elections would be an additional pressure.

"I am pleased that the minister has understood the need to prioritise the capacity required for local government reorganisation," he said.

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