0h 17min, feb 16, 2026 y - Plans to Delay Elections Abandoned

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The government has abandoned plans to delay 30 council elections in England, following advice this could be unlawful.

Local Government Secretary Steve Reed had approved delays for the ballots until 2027, arguing some councils were worried about the cost of running elections for authorities which are due to be abolished in a major reorganisation of local government.

Reform UK had launched a legal challenge against the plans to delay May's elections, which was due to be heard in the High Court on Thursday.

The move was welcomed by opposition parties, who had branded the delays undemocratic.

Reform leader Nigel Farage, writing on X, external, said: "We took this Labour government to court and won.

"In collusion with the Tories, Keir Starmer tried to stop 4.6 million people voting on May 7th. Only Reform UK fights for democracy."

Asked by BBC London if Reed should resign, Farage said "if a government minister does something illegal, they really ought to resign".

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