Government issues update on Lancashire local elections in 2026
Local elections due to be held in Lancashire next year could be cancelled after the government gave councils the chance to apply for permission not to hold them.
Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Chorley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Preston and West Lancashire councils can make the request to scrap their scheduled polls next May.
The government says it is responding to concerns expressed by some authorities in areas across England where an overhaul is taking place to create a new council structure from 2028.
Minister of State for Local Government Alison McGovern said: “We have listened to councils who’ve told us of the challenges they face reorganising while preparing for resource-intensive elections for areas which may shortly be abolished.
“Several have submitted requests to postpone elections so it is therefore right we let them have their say so they can focus their time and energy on providing vital services while planning for reorganisation.
“Our goal is to create new councils who can improve services for residents and it is only right that we listen to councils.”
Elections to ‘shadow’ versions of the new authorities - the nature of which is yet to be determined - will be held in May 2027.
However, the prospect of election cancellations has been blasted by the Electoral Commission.
Chief executive Vijay Rangarajan said: “We note the government statement in Parliament on 18th December inviting councils to raise capacity concerns and seek to postpone elections in May 2026.
"We are disappointed by both the timing and substance of the statement. Scheduled elections should as a rule go ahead as planned, and only be postponed in exceptional circumstances. We are concerned by the possibility of some council elections in May being postponed, and even more by any further postponement to those which already had been deferred from 2025.
"Decisions on any postponements will not be taken until mid-January, less than three months before the scheduled May 2026 elections are due to begin. This uncertainty is unprecedented and will not help campaigners and administrators who need time to prepare for their important roles. We very much recognise the pressures on local government, but these late changes do not help administrators. Parties and candidates have already been preparing for some time, and will be understandably concerned.
"As a matter of principle, we do not think that capacity constraints are a legitimate reason for delaying long planned elections. Extending existing mandates risks affecting the legitimacy of local decision making and damaging public confidence. There is a clear conflict of interest in asking existing councils to decide how long it will be before they are answerable to voters.
"Voters must have a say on those that represent them at local government. We will work with the UK Government on these plans so that we can support voters, campaigners, parties and administrators who have been preparing for these elections."