Exeter elections back on after government U-turn

Elections that were previously cancelled in Exeter will now go ahead after a major government U-turn.

The Labour leader of Exeter City Council, Phil Bialyk, told councillors on 13 January he was asking the government to cancel elections at the end of a three-hour debate.

However, the government has now abandoned plans to delay 30 council elections across England that are now due in May. The change of heart means Labour could lose control of the council when 13 of its 39 seats go up for grabs.

Labour currently holds 22 seats in total. Of the 13 seats now to be contested, eight of those are held by Labour, with two held by the Green Party, one Liberal Democrat, one Conservative and one Reform.

Bialyk said in January the council needed to focus all of its time and resources on the local government reorganisation that is due to see the abolition of Exeter City Council, along with all other district and county councils.

The poll postponement was heavily criticised at the time by all of the opposition parties, with the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Michael Mitchell, claiming it would lead to a "zombie administration".

Of the latest decision, Mitchell said: "This latest Labour government U-turn provides an opportunity at last for the electors in May to remove Labour from power in Exeter."

Diana Moore, leader of the Green Party on Exeter City Council added voting was "a right, not a privilege".

She said: "It shouldn't taken the threat of a court case to make the Labour government recognise that.

"Denying millions of people their right to vote, including those here in Exeter, was a dangerous decision. One I am sure Labour will come to regret on 7 May.

"Our Green candidates are ready to step up to become councillors and serve our communities, not self interest."

Plymouth City Council did not ask to cancel its elections but Labour will remain in control there whatever the results.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government spokesperson said: "Following legal advice, the Government has withdrawn its original decision to postpone 30 local elections in May.

"Providing certainty to councils about their local elections is now the most crucial thing and all local elections will now go ahead in May 2026."

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