Two-thirds of West Midlands elections delayed

Two-thirds of planned local elections that were due to take place in May across the West Midlands will instead be postponed, the government has confirmed.

Ballots in Cannock Chase, Redditch, Rugby and Tamworth were all called off but borough elections in Newcastle-under-Lyme as well as Nuneaton and Bedworth will go ahead.

The issue has led to fractious political arguments, with Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council leader Chris Watkins ousted this week after a vote of no confidence brought by political rivals.

Meanwhile, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, council leader Simon Tagg said he thought it was right that local elections in his area were going ahead.

"We made the case to the government when they requested to hear from councils," he said.

"There's no reason why elections shouldn't go ahead – I think some of the reasons that have been put forward by other councils do not bear out in reality."

Leaders at other authorities had argued that forthcoming local government reorganisations meant it would be a waste of money to hold elections for councils which the government planned to abolish in the coming years.

Tagg said the government had not yet published its plans, however, and added he felt it was a "false premise" to say elections could not take place on that basis.

Earlier this month, Labour politicians in Nuneaton and Bedworth sought to postpone elections there because "it was felt that holding [them] for a local authority that is shortly to be abolished is not a prudent use of resources".

There was disagreement, however, with Conservative group leader Kris Wilson saying a delay to elections could lead to "extraordinarily long terms of office" for existing members.

He added: "Democracy delayed is democracy denied."

Despite the blow of having their leader removed, Labour kept hold of leadership of the authority with former deputy Steve Hey voted in in Watkins' place.

He was able to secure the role with the support of Green Party councillors, after he signalled he was in favour of local elections taking place as planned.

Councils in the West Midlands which have asked to postpone their elections:

• Cannock Chase District Council
• Redditch Borough Council
• Rugby Borough Council
• Tamworth Borough Council

Elections that are going ahead in May:

• Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
• Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council

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