LONDON

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing fresh criticism after the government scrapped plans to postpone local elections in 30 English districts, a move that sparked anger within Labour ranks and raised concerns over a costly legal bill.

Local Government Secretary Steve Reed confirmed on Monday that all elections scheduled for May 2026 will go ahead as planned.

The initial rationale from Starmer’s government for the proposed delay focused on logistical challenges related to local government reorganization and capacity constraints in councils undergoing mergers, rather than on political advantage.

Critics from multiple parties and watchdogs challenged that reasoning on legal and democratic grounds, contributing to the government’s retreat.

Reed defended the shift by citing the pressures of local government reorganization. He told council leaders:

“The government can confirm that all local elections in May 2026 will now go ahead. I recognize that many of the local councils undergoing reorganisation voiced genuine concerns about the pressure they are under as we seek to deliver the most ambitious reforms of local government in a generation.”

Some reports also showed that officials believed the government would lose a legal challenge spearheaded by far-right Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

The decision to abandon the delays is expected to cost taxpayers millions of pounds in administrative expenses.

Opposition leaders were quick to seize on the announcement.

Nigel Farage has called for Steve Reed’s resignation, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the situation as “predictable chaos from a useless government that cannot make basic decisions.”

Local authorities in the affected areas now face a 12-week scramble to organize the polls. The move has also infuriated many Labour MPs, several of whom opposed the initial plan to delay the elections.