The Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) (Revocation) Order 2026
This Statutory Instrument, made by the Secretary of State exercising powers under the Local Government Act 2000, revokes the Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2026, which had previously postponed local government elections in 30 councils from May 2026 until May 2027, thereby mandating that those local elections now proceed in May 2026.
Arguments For
Restoring the original electoral cycle for 30 specified local authorities in England, thereby upholding the established democratic timetable expected by voters.
Reversing a previous administrative decision (S.I. 2026/96) that postponed elections, which could have been seen as unfairly disadvantaging certain local political groups or confusing the electorate.
Affirming local governance arrangements by ensuring continuity in established election years, simplifying local government planning.
Arguments Against
Reinstating elections scheduled for May 2026 might proceed without the benefit of the specific administrative or logistical considerations that prompted the original postponement.
Reversing the postponement might cause unexpected administrative burden on the 30 councils affected if preparations for the 2027 date were already underway.
The revocation overrides a decision made presumably for specific reasons (e.g., resource management, public interest), and the immediate reversal might not account for those original underlying issues.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS
2026 No. 142
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ENGLAND
The Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) (Revocation) Order 2026
This heading identifies the legal instrument as a Statutory Instrument (SI) from 2026, numbered 142.
It specifies that the matters regulated pertain to Local Government within England.
Made - - - - at 11.24 a.m. on 17th
February 2026
Laid before Parliament
at 2.30 p.m. on 17th
February 2026
Coming into force - - 18th February 2026
This details the key dates related to the Order's creation and enactment.
The Order was formally made on February 17, 2026, formally presented to Parliament later that day, and officially came into legal effect the day following, February 18, 2026.
The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 87(1) and (3) and 105(2) and (3) of the Local Government Act 2000( 1 ).
The relevant Secretary of State created this Order using specific powers granted under sections 87 and 105 of the Local Government Act 2000.
These legal provisions authorize the requisite changes to local election timing.
Citation, commencement and extent
- -(1) This Order may be cited as the Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) (Revocation) Order 2026 and comes into force the day after the day on which it is laid before Parliament.
- (2) This Order extends to England and Wales.
The first article establishes the title by which the instrument can be referenced and confirms its commencement date as the day after it was laid before Parliament.
It also states the geographical reach of the Order, confirming it applies to both England and Wales.
Revocation
- The Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2026( 2 ) is revoked.
This central provision explicitly revokes the previous Statutory Instrument, specifically the Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/96).
( 1 ) 2000 c. 22.
( 2 ) S.I. 2026/96.
These footnotes provide the formal statutory references.
The first confirms the citation for the Local Government Act 2000, and the second confirms the citation for the previously enacted Order that is now being revoked.
| Status: This is the original version (as it was originally made). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. |
This status note indicates that the version of the legislation being viewed is the exact form in which it was first created and implemented, without any subsequent amendments.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government at 11.24 a.m. on 17th February 2026
Taylor of Stevenage Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Order is formalized by signature on the authority of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The signatory is identified as Taylor of Stevenage, a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, affixing the date of signing.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
The Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/96) made provision for the postponement of local government elections in England in 2026, postponing elections in 30 councils from May 2026 until May 2027.
Article 2 of this Order revokes the Local Authorities (Changes to Years of Ordinary Elections) (England) Order 2026, meaning that local elections to those councils will proceed in May 2026.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that the previous Order (S.I. 2026/96) had postponed elections in 30 English councils from May 2026 to May 2027.
This current Order's Article 2 cancels that postponement, resulting in the elections for those specific councils taking place as originally scheduled in May 2026.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.
The Government determined that a detailed impact assessment was unnecessary for this instrument because minimal or no significant impact was anticipated across the private, voluntary, or public sectors as a result of revoking the previous postponement.
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