The past year has been unsettled for local government.
Decisions taken by central government have raised serious questions about democratic accountability, and the consequences for councils, communities and confidence in the system.
Most concerning has been the pattern of election delays.
Following the postponement of the inaugural mayoral elections in the Devolution Priority Programme areas, further uncertainty has emerged around scheduled local elections.
This has prompted clear intervention from the Electoral Commission, which has stated that capacity constraints are not a legitimate justification for delaying long-planned polls, extending mandates risks damaging public confidence, and asking sitting councils to determine when they next face voters creates an inherent conflict of interest.
These are not partisan observations. They go to the heart of democratic principle. Elections are not a discretionary administrative exercise; they are the mechanism through which consent is renewed and accountability maintained.
When electoral timetables become uncertain, trust is eroded and councils are placed in an invidious position.
Within the LGA, the Reform UK Group was the only political group to make a formal statement on the postponement of scheduled elections. We did so because democratic integrity requires clarity, not ambiguity. Public trust depends on predictability and fairness, and voters are not blind to the context in which decisions to delay elections are taken, particularly when political fortunes are at stake.
“Elections are the mechanism through which consent is renewed and accountability maintained”
Councils have also received the latest finance settlements following the Fair Funding Review 2.0. Despite the stated aims of the review, the impact has been uneven, with many rural and non-metropolitan authorities facing increased pressure.
The local elections scheduled for May are the single most important political event between now and the next general election. When so much rests on the outcome, the certainty and integrity of the electoral process cannot be compromised.