THE government was forced into a humiliating climbdown today over plans to delay 30 council elections in May.

The Labour government abandoned plans to postpone elections across 30 councils after receiving advice from lawyers following a legal challenge from Reform UK.

In a court order published in January, Mr Justice Chamberlain said the party was seeking an order temporarily blocking the government from changing the date of forthcoming elections pending the hearing of the full legal challenge.

Local government secretary Steve Reed had said he approved proposals to delay the polls following “arguments made about capacity, reorganisation and democracy” amid a drive to reorganise English local authorities.

But today, a Ministry of Local Government (MHCLG) spokesperson said: “Following legal advice, the government has withdrawn its original decision to postpone 30 local elections in May.

“Providing certainty to councils about their local elections is now the most crucial thing, and all local elections will now go ahead in May 2026.”

Unlock Democracy’s Tom Brake said: “This is a victory for democracy and for the millions who faced losing their vote this May. 

“We welcome that the government has come round to this decision, but they now need to change the law so that future elections are not threatened in the same way. 

“Ministers shouldn’t have the power to postpone or cancel elections without even having a vote in Parliament.”

Sir Keir is a former barrister and this is the latest in a series of legal blunders by his government after last week’s High Court ruling that the Palestine Action ban was illegal.

Communist Party general secretary Alex Gordon said: “Postponement of County Council elections in 2025 was widely seen as collaboration between Tory local authorities and the newly elected Labour government to stall Reform UK’s advance.

“But Reform UK has no answers to the problems of Britain’s communities.

“Local government is in a financial crisis, with councils facing bankruptcy, unable to fund costs of homeless accommodation, adult social care, children’s services and education.

“Local government has shed more than 500,000 jobs since 2010, with further cuts anticipated from Labour’s continuing austerity.

“The Communist Party will campaign in the May 2026 local elections on issues that threaten people’s real interests, oppose right-wing populist scaremongering and stand Communist candidates where Reform UK’s propaganda would otherwise go unchallenged, especially in working-class communities.”