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Local Government: Elections

Asked by Mr Lee DillonLiberal DemocratMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 20 October 2025UIN 80731

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to take steps to avoid postponement of scheduled local elections during future reorganisation processes.

Answered by Alison McGovern

The Government’s starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification.

The Government will work with areas to hold elections for new unitary councils as soon as possible, as is the usual arrangement in the process of local government reorganisation.

Legislation to implement proposals for unitary councils replaces any planned elections with elections for the new councils. This avoid the cost and disruption of elections to short-term posts in councils which will shortly be abolished.

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