Council confirms commitment to May election
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has formally confirmed its intention to press ahead with its planned election later this year.
The Council has written to Alison McGovern, Minister of State for Local Government, saying that Cabinet has agreed the election should proceed as intended on Thursday, 7th May.
The response was in reply to an invitation from the Minister, who had said all councils holding elections in 2026 could ask for a postponement if staging them was too difficult in conjunction with preparations for the proposed reorganisation of local government.
The Council’s letter says:
Newcastle‑under‑Lyme Borough Council remains fully committed to upholding the democratic process and ensuring a fair and timely election, irrespective of ongoing local government reorganisation discussions.”
It adds that votes are also due to be held that day in parts of the Newcastle borough for election to town and parish councils.
The Borough Council election is scheduled every four years and all 44 seats will be contested on 7th May.
The current political situation is that the Conservatives hold 26 seats, and Labour 17, with Reform holding the remaining seat.
Council Leader Simon Tagg said:
Delaying a scheduled election is an action only to be taken in the most extraordinary circumstances.
Central Government is already forcing Local Government Reorganisation on communities that have not asked for it, and I think it is wrong to suggest postponing local democracy while they try to make these changes work.
The council has consistently argued that the forced abolition of Staffordshire’s two-tier system in favour of unitary councils is unjustified, unwelcome and unwanted.”