Some local elections could be 'held off' next year under devolution plans
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Some local elections may not go ahead next year under the government's devolution plans, a minister has suggested. Jim McMahon said local authorities could be closed or merged, meaning voting in these areas would be held off. Politics Live: MPs consider naming Chinese spy.
Labour's manifesto promised to "deepen" and "widen" devolution, with more areas expected to take on the mayoral combined authority (CA) model like that headed by Sadiq Khan in Greater London. Local elections are held every year in May - but Mr McMahon told LBC some councils "essentially won't exist" if they make a request for reorganisation under the devolution proposals.
"At the moment, the assumption is that elections are going ahead," he said. "However, it's usual in a process of reorganisation that when a council makes a request for reorganisation - that if there are elections taking place to a council that essentially won't exist within the term of those elections - then you hold off the elections and you elect to a shadow body, and the shadow body basically is a form of the new councils that will follow.".
Some local authorities have already requested reorganisation, he added, saying there will be a statutory consultation before any changes are made. Asked if some local authorities would be closed or merged Mr McMahon said: "That's the nature of reorganisation.".
