Reform UK seeks High Court order preventing local elections delays

Reform's challenge centres around the Government's proposal to postpone or cancel some local elections that are due to occur on 7 May 2026, and any such orders as may be made by the Secretary of State for Local Government aiming to postpone or cancel any such election.

The Government proposed delaying these elections last year for 63 areas in order to allow them to focus resources on replacing their two-tier local authorities with unitary councils.

Just over a third of the councils eligible have now requested to delay polls, according to analysis from the BBC.

However, Reform has since sought a court order from the High Court challenging the proposals.

According to a court order from Mr Justice Chamberlain, the party argues any statutory orders made to delay elections “would have the likely effect of discouraging candidates from coming forward and/or participating, stymie the selection of candidates and undermine the conduct of local election campaigns”.

Chamberlain J refused Reform UK’s application that interim relief be considered on the papers. Instead, he ordered a hearing take place on Tuesday (20 January).

The order read: "On the Claimant’s own case, the interim relief sought may affect candidates and potential candidates in many local authority areas across England.

"The Court will wish to be as informed as possible about the arguments for and against interim relief before determining the application. Given the asserted need to determine the application quickly, the fairest way to determine it is at a hearing, on notice to both parties."

Responding to the claim, a spokesperson for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said the department is taking “a locally-led approach” to the decision.

It added: “Councils are in the best position to judge the impact of postponements on their area, and this government will listen to them.

“These are exceptional circumstances where councils have told us they're struggling to prepare for resource-intensive elections to councils that will shortly be abolished, while also reorganising into more efficient authorities that can better serve local residents.

“This is an ongoing process, and no decisions have been made yet over any delays. There is a clear precedent for postponing local elections where local government reorganisation is in progress, as happened between 2019 and 2021.”

Adam Carey