5 Isle of Wight political leaders have sent a clear message to Whitehall following a letter asking for views on postponing local elections: no more delays.
Councillors in charge of the Reform UK, Conservative, Empowering Islanders, Alliance and Liberal Democrat groups at County Hall have told the Local Democracy Reporting Service of their demands for the May 2026 poll to go ahead as planned.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, wrote to 63 local authority leaders with elections due in May and where local government reorganisation (LGR) plans have been submitted and decisions not yet taken.
She invited feedback on a postponement and whether they consider this could release ‘essential capacity to deliver LGR’.
Councillor Ed Blake, leader of the Conservative group, said:
“Last year the Independent and Green Alliance, through their cabinet, voted to engage in a priority programme for becoming a devolved area.
“This was despite the indicative motion falling at the Emergency Full Council meeting prior to that decision.
“This resulted in a delaying of the local elections. Now, the government have come back to ask councils involved in LGR if they would like to delay their elections – yet again!
Article continues below this advertisement “The answer must be sent immediately back to them, unequivocally – no. We want our elections to go ahead in May 2026. No more delays!”
Councillor Phil Jordan, who leads the Alliance group, said:
“I have already expressed my views to the Minister and to government that I could not support any further delay in local elections.
“I shall be discussing the position with the Alliance group and with other councillors early in January to understand what the majority of Isle of Wight councillors want to happen.
“I am aware that if no request to delay local elections is made to government, then those elections will go ahead as planned in May 2026.”
Councillor Bill Nigh, Reform UK group leader, said:
“These proposals to further cancel the local elections by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) were based upon a precept that local authorities need longer to prepare for the transition to becoming unitary authorities.
“The Isle of Wight became a unitary authority on April 1, 1995, and was a pilot for those that followed.
“There is no reason to deny Isle of Wight residents their right to vote on their local representatives again.
“I will be calling upon all my council colleagues in all parties to oppose any further delay to democracy. None of us should be afraid of the ballot box and of being held accountable to our constituents.”
Councillor Andrew Garratt, who leads the Liberal Democrats at County Hall, said:
“Isle of Wight Liberal Democrat councillors were opposed to the postponement of this year’s elections.
“We do not support a further postponement. Residents were rightly expecting to have their say on who represents them last May. A further delay would be untenable.”
Councillor Chris Jarman of the Empowering Islanders group has said:
“At the Extraordinary Meeting of Full Council on May 1 2024, International Workers’ and Labour Day, I declared “democracy delayed is democracy denied” in relation to the government proposal to delay our local elections.
“Empowering Islanders group staunchly opposed the cancellation of the 2025 local elections and will vigorously maintain that position in response to any proposal to delay them further.
“Democracy in the UK was hard won by ordinary men and women and is the cornerstone upon which our constitution and civil rights rest. It cannot be for any government that may be afraid of the result to seek to take that right away.”
How strange nothing from the islands Labour representatives!!! They know they’re not wanted, they know people have realised they’re all liars & cheats. Trouble is if local elections go ahead they will lose everywhere & there could be mayhem, more than there is already.
Probably not been over here to see anything.
We are in difficult times.
14 years of Conservatives was no good.
1 and 1/2 years of Labour is much worse.
But just imagine the uneducated Reformers gaining
power, a load of thugs who don’t have a clue
they are better off watching a football match
I doubt anyone will listen to them.
Where is Quigley?A question constantly asked.
My guess he is spending Christmas in his tax payers paid for home
in Westminster.
Living it up on his tax payers expenses in some high
quality London restaurants.
Never forget, we are all in this together
Lol
Problem is starmer the wanker wouldn’t give a shit what anyone wants..
Thankyou to these Councillors for actually fighting on our behalf. More than Liebour