Sussex councils back on the ballot after government u-turn's on local elections
The government has abandoned its plan to postpone 30 local elections scheduled for May 2026, following last‑minute legal advice that rendered the move untenable. The reversal - confirmed on Monday, 16 February by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) - restores the electoral timetable for councils across England, including several in Sussex.
MHCLG said the decision followed fresh legal advice that the proposed postponements could not be justified, prompting ministers to revoke the planned secondary legislation. As a result, councils such as Crawley Borough Council, East Sussex County Council, Hastings Borough Council, West Sussex County Council, Adur District Council and Worthing Borough Council will now proceed with elections as originally scheduled.
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The U‑turn comes after widespread criticism and a legal challenge launched by Reform UK, whose case - according to government correspondence seen by Sky News - contributed to the change in course. MHCLG confirmed the government will cover the party’s legal costs, reported to be in six figures.
Ministers have also announced £63 million in new funding to support local authorities affected by the reorganisation process, building on £7.6 million allocated the previous year. The funding is intended to assist councils as they reinstate election planning and adapt to the ongoing structural changes associated with England’s wider local government overhaul.
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