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Cheltenham Borough Council, which is governed by the Liberal Democrats, has announced that it will request a postponement of its local elections originally planned for 7 May. This decision contrasts with comments made by the party’s national leader, Sir Ed Davey, who previously argued that delaying elections would violate human rights. The council has stated that holding the elections as scheduled “does not seem responsible” due to the financial implications involved.
Elections in Cheltenham have traditionally occurred with half of the council seats contested every two years, with the most recent election taking place in 2024. Sir Ed Davey had previously called on the Equality and Human Rights Commission to examine the government’s suggestion that councils could seek election delays, highlighting concerns about compliance with Article 3 of the first protocol of the Human Rights Act, which guarantees the right to free elections. In his letter, Sir Ed emphasized that “Removing elections altogether, entirely unnecessarily, is in clear breach of this principle,” and asked for confirmation about any investigation into the government’s approach.
Despite this, Cheltenham’s Liberal Democrat council leader, Cllr Rowena Hay, stressed the need for a practical perspective on the situation, balancing service delivery with limited resources. She pointed out that the council is facing “major under-funding” and the pressures of reorganizing local government across the county in a cost-effective manner. Although the group’s preference remains to hold elections as planned, Cllr Hay noted the election process is “incredibly resource-intensive” and questioned the prudence of proceeding when those elected might serve only about twelve months.
Gloucestershire is currently considering three different models for local government reorganization, including the establishment of a single unitary authority, an East/West split, and the Greater Gloucester model. Residents will be consulted on these proposals in the spring, with a government decision expected later in the summer. According to the current plan, elections are due in May 2027, when newly elected councillors would manage the transition and continue operating the existing seven councils. Full elections for the new council structure are intended for May 2028. In related remarks, Sir Ed Davey had warned in December that delaying local elections could disenfranchise nearly 10 million voters in England. However, a Lib Dem spokesperson clarified that Cheltenham’s situation is unique, noting councillors were elected only 18 months ago, unlike in some Conservative-led councils where councillors have served significantly longer terms before facing re-election
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