ELECTIONS MAY BE DELAYED:

WEST YORKSHIRE’S mayoral elections in May could be delayed as Boris Johnson said the polling day would be kept “under review”.

Asked in the Commons whether local elections – which include votes for council seats, mayoral races, police and crime commissioner posts, the Welsh and Scottish parliaments – would go ahead in light of the pandemic, Mr Johnson said: “That is what the law provides for.”

But he added: “Obviously we’ll have to keep it under review.”

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “Legislation provides that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.

“We continue to work closely with the electoral community and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely – and in a way of their choosing.

“Measures are planned to support absent voting at short notice. Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review.”

But it is understood some ministers have said polling should be delayed until the summer when the pandemic is likely to be more under control.

And the BBC reported that in Manchester, council leaders were told the Government expects to

delay the elections until the summer, although local politicians felt the autumn was more realistic.

West Yorkshire is due to elect its first mayor in May, with Labour having picked Batley and

Spen MP Tracy Brabin as their candidate.

Ms Brabin said: “All the elections due to happen this year are important and directly impact on the lives of local people and they must go ahead. The Government must ensure they take place and that they take place as safely as possible. Labour candidates across West Yorkshire and beyond will be ready to fight these elections whenever theyhappen.”

The Conservatives are yet to announce their candidate.

As well as the votes that were originally scheduled for this year, a number of cancelled battles from 2020 were also postponed until May. It means that on May 6 – so- called Super Thursday – every voter in Great Britain would be able to take part in at least one type of poll, making it the biggest event of its kind outside a General Election.

It will also be the first big electoral test for Sir Keir Starmer since he became Labour leader in April 2020, and for Prime Minister Boris Johnson since his general election victory in December 2019.

While neighbourhood issues will play a part in deciding many local seats, Covid- 19 and Brexit are likely to dominate some of the bigger campaigns, particularly for the parliaments in Scotland and Wales and the regional mayors in England.

Aside from a handful of council by- elections in Scotland in October and November, no polls have been held anywhere in the UK since March 2020 – a gap unprecedented in modern history.

Candidates will be ready to fight these elections whenever they happen. Tracy Brabin, Labour’s candidate to be West Yorkshire mayor.