Suffolk elections are delayed. The government chooses a devolution plan, prioritizing Suffolk. Mayoral elections are possible in 2026.
Angela Rayner talked about it in Parliament. Suffolk will be part of a priority program. This means they can get rid of district councils faster, and they can also delay the elections in May. There may be mayoral elections in 2026.
Other areas are in the program too. Norfolk, Cumbria, and Cheshire are examples. Essex, Hampshire, Sussex, and Warrington also were selected.
Suffolk asked for the election delay last month. They applied for the government program. Some councillors were not happy about this, and they thought it hurt democracy. Some representatives showed opposition.
Rayner said elections for old bodies made no sense. They do not know what will replace old councils. She said elections would waste money. The plan is to replace councils with new authorities, each representing 500,000 people. Exceptions can be made in specific instances.
The government wants new mayoral authorities. A mayor would oversee a large area. The mayor would handle transport and healthcare, and they also handle emergency services like fire departments.
Adrian Ramsay disagrees with delaying elections, thinking the plan is authoritarian. He wants the elections to happen as planned. Cancelling elections removes electoral mandate. He said people need a say in changes.
More decisions need to happen locally. Funding should come from central bodies. Politicians must stay connected to people affected. Imposing large councils rejects local opinion, he added.