Local elections delayed a year

The virus outbreak has prompted the Government to postponed this May’s local elections by a year. Elections were due to be held for 184 councils in England plus some for  directly elected mayors. No elections were scheduled in Scotland or Wales. The mayoral elections due to be held were for: London; the combined authorities of Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Tees Valley, and West of England; and the councils of Bristol, Liverpool and Salford. The postponement may affect the formation of the new unitary authorities for Buckinghamshire, West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire. Elections to these councils should have taken place this May, ahead of the councils’ formal launch next April.