Councillors oppose government proposal to delay May 2026 elections
Calls for elections to proceed as scheduled despite reorganisation concerns
Hampshire County Councillors from across the political spectrum have rejected a government proposal to postpone the county’s local elections, currently scheduled for May 2026.
At an extraordinary meeting of Hampshire County Council on 12th January, councillors emphasised the importance of safeguarding residents’ democratic right to vote and called for ministers to make a decision without delay.
The debate arose after the government raised concerns about councils’ capacity to manage Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) alongside resource-intensive elections.
H2 Councillors push back on postponement plan
Liberal Democrat councillor Jackie Porter called for elections to proceed as planned, arguing that delaying them undermines democracy.
“The Labour government has asked to postpone the county elections again, and our answer is clear: we want the county elections to go ahead in 2026,” she said.
Independent group leader Cllr Andy Tree reiterated this stance, describing democracy as “sacred.”
“Democracy is sacred and elections must go ahead,” Cllr Tree said.
“I would only ever want to be a councillor because people have chosen to elect me, not because elections are cancelled.
“Voters across Hampshire deserve to elect councillors of the party of their choice.”
Reorganisation concerns
The government’s proposal stems from concerns about councils’ ability to smoothly transition to new authorities under LGR while delivering elections.
In a letter to councils, local government and homelessness minister Alison McGovern highlighted worries about “resource-intensive” elections for bodies that “may shortly be abolished.”
Similar postponements during past reorganisations were cited as justification.
However, Hampshire county councillors stood firm, rejecting the idea that challenges tied to LGR justify delaying elections.
Voting to go ahead
Conservative councillor Gavin James went so far as to declare he would resign his seat on 1st March if elections were postponed, forcing a by-election.
“So we can all have elections anyway, regardless of what the government says,” he stated.
Councillors voted for a Conservative amendment formally recommending that elections proceed as scheduled.
Council leader Cllr Nick Adams-King pledged his commitment to ensuring May 2026 elections take place, saying:
“This looks like an attempt by a government scared of the electorate to avoid results they fear.
“I don’t fear that result. I may not even be standing here in future, but that is the choice of the people.”