The elections in May are set to be the first electoral test for Labour since the party took power at Westminster in July last year, and an important measure of the public mood.
Reform UK Chairman Zia Yusuf criticised the potential delay, saying: “Labour and the Tories are so terrified of Reform’s rise that they are colluding to rob the British people of their democratic rights.”
Rayner told a select committee this week it would be “ludicrous” for councils to hold elections if they were planning to reorganise their structures.
But said the government was not “dictating” what should happen in council areas.
In 2021 the previous Conservative government delayed local elections in North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Somerset when councils in those areas were undergoing reorganisation.
But the current plans have prompted a backlash from some local leaders.
The District Councils Network claimed ministers had “rushed” the proposals to reorganise local government and were depriving residents of having a say.
The organisation’s chairman Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen said: “The cancellation of the local elections comes after the government’s general election manifesto neglected to mention that it sought to take power away from communities by replacing district councils with mega councils.
“Democracy is being side-lined with the local electorate being deprived of any democratic opportunity to give their verdict on a major reorganisation that will have far-reaching repercussions for the destiny of thousands of English towns and villages.”
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “No decisions have been taken on postponing elections.
“We will only consider postponing elections for areas where the council concerned have requested it and where it helps an area to deliver reorganisation and devolution to the most ambitious timeline.”
