Exeter opposition parties urge government to allow May 2026 vote

Opposition parties in Exeter have united to urge the Local Government Minister to allow council elections to go ahead in May 2026, warning that postponing the vote would undermine local democracy.

The intervention follows a nearly three-hour full council meeting on 13 January, after which Exeter City Council leader Philip Bialyk formally requested that the elections be delayed by one year amid preparations for local government reorganisation (LGR).

In a joint letter to Local Government Minister Jim McGovern, the leaders of all opposition groups on the council said the Labour administration’s request lacked sufficient evidence and did not reflect the views expressed during the debate.

The letter is signed by representatives of the Green Party, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Equity Independent Group and Reform UK.

Cllr Bialyk has argued that postponing the elections would “release essential capacity for the effective delivery of LGR”, and asked the Secretary of State to make an order delaying the vote.

However, the opposition leaders said they had “low confidence” that his letter on behalf of Exeter City Council would fairly represent the range of views raised at the meeting.

They said councillors had not been presented with any report showing the authority lacked the capacity to deliver both the elections and the reorganisation programme.

At the meeting, councillors were presented with a report from the council’s chief executive recommending that the leader respond to the government by 15 January on whether to request a postponement.

The report said delaying the elections could save £265,000, which could be allocated to other projects, including LGR, or returned to general reserves.

However, the opposition letter states that since LGR proposals were first developed, councillors had “never once” been presented with evidence suggesting the council could not manage both processes.

It also notes that when questioned at the meeting, the chief executive said staff would “do everything they can to deliver LGR”, and confirmed that preparations for the elections had already begun.

The opposition leaders said annual elections were already included in the council’s medium-term financial plan, approved at the same meeting.

They argued that without clear evidence that postponement was necessary, the decision appeared “not evidence based” and risked placing party interests above the need for a democratic mandate.

Green group leader Councillor Diana Moore said capacity concerns had not been identified in the LGR proposal, transition plan or risk register.

She said: “The council undertakes its elections in thirds, and annual elections are a right, not a privilege for our residents.”

Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Michael Mitchell described the proposal as an attempt to avoid public scrutiny.

He said it would deny Exeter residents “for the last time before the new councils come into being” the opportunity to express their views on the council’s performance.

He also pointed to an offer from Devon County Council to assist with capacity to ensure the elections could go ahead.

Conservative group leader Councillor Peter Holland said there were “no compelling reasons” to cancel the vote.

He said: “It is morally and ethically wrong to cancel residents’ democratic rights to vote on a four-year cycle outside of a national emergency such as war or a pandemic.”

Equity Independent Group councillors Zoe Hughes and Lucy Haigh warned that postponement would damage public trust.

Cllr Hughes said residents “absolutely do not want” the elections cancelled and warned the impact on trust in elected officials would be “immense”.

Ms Haigh said while LGR presented challenges, elections remained essential, adding that government should ensure councils were funded to deliver both.

Reform UK councillor Tony Payne said he was concerned opposition views would not be heard and described the council meeting as “an exercise in how democracy doesn’t work”.

The issue has also drawn criticism from outside the city.

Devon County Council Conservative group leader Councillor Andrew Leadbetter questioned why elections were proceeding elsewhere.

“Plymouth and Exeter are only 50 miles apart,” he said. “Why are voters in Plymouth permitted to vote this year, but voters in Exeter denied?”

He added that Exeter residents deserved the right to elect their representatives, particularly while Devon’s future local government arrangements remain unclear.

The government will decide whether to approve Exeter City Council’s request to postpone the elections.