Reform outcry as Labour to postpone mayoral elections

Sir Keir Starmer’s government is expected to announce that crucial elections for new mayors are set to be postponed by two years.

- DAVID MADDOX POLITICAL EDITOR

Elections for newly created mayoral posts in Cumbria, Cheshire & Warrington, Norfolk & Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex & Brighton, and Hampshire & Solent were due to be held next year.

But it is understood the elections will be postponed until 2028, which has prompted accusations from Reform UK that it is a move to stop “big Reform wins”.

An official announcement by communities secretary Steve Reed is expected this week.

It comes after a poll this month by Ipsos put voting intention for Labour at 18 per cent, with Nigel Farage’s Reform leading at 33 per cent, although the party dropped 1 per cent from September.

Sir Keir’s own future has been pinned on how well Labour does in the elections next May with challenges in Wales, Scotland and London borough councils already causing Labour a headache.