Local elections in England delayed until 2021 over virus fears
Boris Johnson has postponed local elections in England scheduled for 7 May for a year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister had earlier said the government would not delay the vote, which includes mayoral elections in London and Manchester.
But yesterday afternoon it was announced that Mr Johnson had made the decision over concerns that voters would be heading to polling stations during the height of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Both the Electoral Commission and the Labour Party had called on the Prime Minister to take action in delaying the votes. It is the most significant emergency delay to polling since then-prime minister Tony Blair suspended the local and general elections in 2001 over the foot and mouth outbreak.
Labour general secretary Jennie Formby said the party had “serious concerns about the health and wellbeing of our staff and members” and announced the cancellation of all local constituency meetings.
A government spokeswoman said: “We will bring forward legislation to postpone local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections until May next year.
“We will also work with the devolved administrations to ensure that they have the necessary powers to do the same.”
Electoral Commission chief executive Bob Posner had called for a delay until the autumn in a letter to the government.
He highlighted “real risks” over voter turnout and safety, as well as the ability of candidatesto carry out campaigning.
Votes were due to be held in 118 councils across England, while police and crime commissioners were due to be selected in 40 areas across England and Wales.
The Association of Electoral Administrators, which represents election chiefs, had warned there may not be enough staff to keep all polling stations open due to sickness or self-isolation.
Political parties have cancelled or postponed their spring conferences, and an event to announce the result of the Labour leadership election has also been scrapped.