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Coronavirus: English local elections postponed for a year Coronavirus: English local elections postponed for a year
(32 minutes later)
The government has announced that May's local and mayoral elections in England will be postponed for a year due to the coronavirus outbreak. Local and mayoral elections in England will be postponed for a year to May 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
It comes after the Electoral Commission said on Thursday the polls should be delayed until the autumn to "mitigate" the impact of the virus. Downing Street said it would be impractical to hold the elections as planned, as they would come during the peak of the spread of the virus.
The polling watchdog had said there were "growing risks" to the delivery of the polls, due on 7 May. Polls were due in 118 English councils, the London Assembly and for seven English regional mayors.
Voting was also due to take place for the London mayor and police and crime commissioners in England and Wales.
It comes after the Electoral Commission said on Thursday the elections should be delayed until the autumn to "mitigate" the impact of the virus.
Ten people have died with the virus, with 798 cases confirmed UK-wide.Ten people have died with the virus, with 798 cases confirmed UK-wide.
Downing Street said it would be impractical to go ahead with the elections as planned, as they would come during the peak of the spread of the virus. The Cabinet Office said it would be bringing forward legislation to enact the delay in England, and would work to ensure the Welsh authorities had the same powers.
Local elections were due to take place for around 118 English councils, the London Assembly, the Mayor of London and seven English regional mayors. The last time elections were delayed was in 2001, during the foot and mouth outbreak.
Voting has also been due to take place in both England and Wales for police and crime commissioners. Acting Liberal Democrat Sir Ed Davey said the move to delay the polls was the "right decision".
But he added it was "not clear" why the government had opted for a year-long delay, rather than postpone until the autumn as the Electoral Commission recommended.
Before the postponement was announced, Labour had backed calls for a delay, adding it had "serious concerns" about the welfare of party staff and members.
Labour General Secretary Jennie Formby wrote to local party branches earlier on Friday advising them to suspend campaigning ahead of the polls.
Defending the decision to delay the polls, Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said it was important "everyone feels confident they are able to take part".
"Respecting the annual cycle of local government, postponing them seems to me in the circumstance to be the right thing to do," he added.
James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association, said: "The LGA has been raising a number of issues with government including the possible impact of coronavirus on local elections. The swift decision is very helpful.
"Councils will now continue to put all of their efforts into supporting their local communities as the nation tackles Covid-19."