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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: English local elections postponed for a year | Coronavirus: English local elections postponed for a year |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Local and mayoral elections in England will be postponed for a year to May 2021 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Polls were due in 118 English councils, the London Assembly and for seven English regional mayors. | 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. | 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. | It comes after the Electoral Commission said on Thursday the elections should be delayed until the autumn to "mitigate" the impact of the virus. |
| Meanwhile, visitor access to Parliament will be restricted from Monday, and MPs and peers are being "strongly" discouraged from making overseas trips. | |
| Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said the "proportionate and reasonable" measures would help preserve the operation of Parliament during the outbreak. | |
| 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. |
| The Cabinet Office said it would be bringing forward legislation to enact the elections delay in England, and would ensure the Welsh authorities had the same powers. | |
| The last time elections were delayed was in 2001, when they took place one month late due to the foot and mouth outbreak. | The last time elections were delayed was in 2001, when they took place one month late due to the foot and mouth outbreak. |
| Acting Liberal Democrat Sir Ed Davey said the move to delay the polls was the "right decision". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | "Respecting the annual cycle of local government, postponing them seems to me in the circumstance to be the right thing to do," he added. |
| 'Uncharted territory' | 'Uncharted territory' |
| 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. | 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." | "Councils will now continue to put all of their efforts into supporting their local communities as the nation tackles Covid-19." |
| The decision to delay the polls was also backed by the Association of Electoral Administrators. | The decision to delay the polls was also backed by the Association of Electoral Administrators. |
| Its chief executive Peter Stanyon said: "This is uncharted territory and our members have been raising significant concerns about the safe delivery of these elections." | Its chief executive Peter Stanyon said: "This is uncharted territory and our members have been raising significant concerns about the safe delivery of these elections." |
| Political events delayed | Political events delayed |
| Labour has cancelled the special conference in London at which it was due to announce the result of its leadership election on 4 April. | Labour has cancelled the special conference in London at which it was due to announce the result of its leadership election on 4 April. |
| The party said on Thursday it would instead put on a "scaled-back event" instead. | The party said on Thursday it would instead put on a "scaled-back event" instead. |
| The Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and Welsh Labour have all cancelled their spring conferences due to the spread of the virus. | The Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and Welsh Labour have all cancelled their spring conferences due to the spread of the virus. |
| The SNP and Scottish Conservatives have also announced their spring conferences will be postponed. | The SNP and Scottish Conservatives have also announced their spring conferences will be postponed. |
| Only one MP, health minister Nadine Dorries, has tested positive for the virus - but an increasing number are self-isolating after either feeling unwell or learning that colleagues they have recently mingled with now have the virus. | Only one MP, health minister Nadine Dorries, has tested positive for the virus - but an increasing number are self-isolating after either feeling unwell or learning that colleagues they have recently mingled with now have the virus. |
| Speaking on Friday, Mr Buckland said there was currently "no evidence" to suggest that keeping Parliament open posed a "public health issue in itself". | Speaking on Friday, Mr Buckland said there was currently "no evidence" to suggest that keeping Parliament open posed a "public health issue in itself". |
| But he added: "If that evidence and information changes, then we'll have to take appropriate steps." | But he added: "If that evidence and information changes, then we'll have to take appropriate steps." |