Lancashire councils invited to make case for cancelling May 2026 elections
Government opens discussions around capacity concerns during local authority reorganisation.
The government has invited councils across Lancashire to submit requests to cancel local elections scheduled for May 2026, citing potential challenges linked to ongoing local government reorganisation.
Seven councils in the region, including Preston, Chorley, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Pendle, West Lancashire, and Burnley, are impacted. These councils are currently undergoing a significant shake-up that will see Lancashire’s 15 main local authorities dissolved by April 2028, replaced with a smaller number of newly formed councils.
Local government minister Alison McGovern said councils should focus on reorganising vital services ahead of the changes. She added: “Several councils have submitted requests to postpone elections, so it is only right we let them have their say so they can focus their time and energy on reorganising while planning for change.”
Why are councils considering election cancellations?
Four Labour-led councils – Preston, Chorley, Blackburn with Darwen, and Hyndburn – had already sought permission to cancel their 2026 polls, arguing that elections shortly before reorganisation would strain resources and disrupt the process. The councils elect their memberships in thirds, meaning the rescheduled elections would have covered one-third of their seats.
Council leaders cited concerns over the capacity required to stage elections alongside preparations for transferring services to the new authorities. Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council, said resources would be better spent ensuring a smooth handover to the new authority.
Pendle Council plans to argue for elections to proceed, while West Lancashire Borough Council and Burnley Council are awaiting clarity from the government. Reform UK in Lancashire and the Electoral Commission have opposed any cancellations, with Lancashire County Council leader Stephen Atkinson calling it a “cynical attempt to deny democracy.”
Implications for councillors and the electoral process
If elections are scrapped, the councillors whose seats are scheduled to be contested in May 2026 would remain in their roles until the current councils are abolished in March 2028. Their terms would be extended by nearly two years, bypassing the opportunity for voters to cast their say.
The government has emphasised that separate elections for ‘shadow’ councils will go ahead in May 2027, in preparation for the launch of new authorities in April 2028.
However, the Electoral Commission has expressed concerns over potential postponements, stating that scheduled votes should proceed as planned, barring exceptional circumstances. The commission warned against extending existing mandates without a fresh electoral mandate, highlighting risks to public confidence.
Decisions on cancellations will be made by mid-January, leaving little time for campaigners and administrators to prepare if elections proceed as scheduled.