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Labour could look a section predetermination wipeout aft nan authorities was forced to abandoned plans to postpone section elections for councils successful May, a canvass has found.
Labour had initially announced plans to cancel elections successful 30 areas this year, impacting 4.5 cardinal people, successful bid to free up “capacity” to undertake an overhaul of assembly structures.
Several councils person called nan U-turn “extremely disappointing”, pinch Laura Lock, lawman main executive of nan Association of Electoral Administrators, pointing retired predetermination workers “have mislaid months of basal readying clip for reinstated May 7 elections."
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) spokesperson said nan determination came aft “legal advice” pursuing a situation from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who said “we took this Labour authorities to tribunal and won.”
Polling for The Telegraph suggests that Labour majorities connected 10 section authorities will beryllium wiped retired now that elections successful 30 areas will spell ahead.
Now that nan elections will spell ahead, nan canvass suggests that Labour will apt suffer power of six councils and its mostly will beryllium wiped retired wholly successful 4 more.
Unemployment rises to highest level for 5 years
Unemployment has risen to its highest level for 5 years and costs maturation has slowed again arsenic nan UK jobs marketplace continues to travel nether pressure, according to charismatic figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said nan complaint of unemployment lifted to 5.2% successful nan 3 months to December, up from 5.1% successful nan 3 months to November.
This was nan highest since nan 3 months to January 2021 and nan highest for complete a decade extracurricular of nan pandemic era.
Most economists had expected unemployment to stay astatine 5.1% successful nan latest quarter.
Dan Haygarth17 February 2026 08:07
Yusuf calls for authorities to people ineligible proposal that led to predetermination U-turn
Political newsman Athena Stavrou reports:
Reform’s caput of argumentation has called for nan authorities to people nan ineligible proposal they received that prompted them to wantonness plans to postpone elections successful 30 section councils.
Zia Yusuf said nan publication of nan advice, which was fixed successful consequence to a ineligible situation from Reform UK, is “in nan nationalist interest”.
“The missive wherever they announced they were throwing successful nan towel and conceding that nan elections tin spell up said this was successful ray of ‘new grounds and they’ve reserved their privilege connected that meaning they are not going to people it,” he told LBC.
“I deliberation its successful nan nationalist liking for america each to spot it, I deliberation I cognize what that caller ineligible proposal was going to be, was that they were going to lose.”
Dan Haygarth17 February 2026 08:00
Labour faces swipe retired successful section elections now going ahead, canvass suggests
Polling for The Telegraph suggests that Labour majorities connected 10 section authorities will beryllium wiped retired now that elections successful 30 areas will spell ahead.
Labour had initially announced plans to cancel elections successful 30 areas this year, impacting 4.5 cardinal people, successful bid to free up “capacity” to undertake an overhaul of assembly structures.
Now that they will spell ahead, The Telegraph suggests that Labour will apt suffer power of six councils – Blackburn pinch Darwen, Cannock Chase, Exeter, Preston, Thurrock and Worthing.
Its mostly will beryllium wiped retired wholly successful 4 more, nan study states.
The polling suggests nan Labour statement will suffer half of nan seats it will take sides successful May.
Dan Haygarth17 February 2026 07:44
What to expect today?
- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage will beryllium announcing members of his party’s protector furniture squad astatine a Westminster property conference.
- There will beryllium a proceeding for MP Rupert Lowe’s ineligible situation against parliamentary watchdog.
- Rupert Lowe, nan independent MP for Great Yarmouth, is seeking to return High Court ineligible action against nan Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme complete its determination past July to analyse a title made against him.
Bryony Gooch17 February 2026 07:00
Reform by-election campaigner defends man who said ‘burn asylum hotels’
Bryony Gooch17 February 2026 06:00
In pictures: Reform rally successful Romford
Bryony Gooch17 February 2026 05:00
Make places for illustration Somerset return much migrants, Danish curate tells UK
Bryony Gooch17 February 2026 04:00
Watch: Keir Starmer denies knowledge of Labour Together-linked ‘probe’ into journalists
Bryony Gooch17 February 2026 03:00
Farage refuses to apologise for payer costs of footing measure for ineligible fees and election
Asked if he should apologise for nan imaginable costs to taxpayers of some footing nan measure for ineligible fees and of holding nan elections that had been owed for postponement, Mr Farage said: “The thought I should apologise because it costs money to clasp elections successful a state wherever one-and-a-quarter cardinal group died successful 2 world wars truthful that we could beryllium a free democracy, I won’t moreover statesman to apologise.
“That is our system. That is our way. We take nan group that correspond us, taxation us, make decisions connected our behalf, and erstwhile each fewer years, we’ve nan correct to judge them and get free of them. That is nan very ground of really modern Britain works.”
Bryony Gooch17 February 2026 02:00
Starmer abandons plans to cancel May assembly elections successful latest U-turn
Bryony Gooch17 February 2026 01:00
