Rows have broken out across Warwickshire on whether to postpone this year’s local elections(Image: chrisdorney via Getty Images)
The Labour leadership of Rugby Borough Council is set to request the cancellation of its 2026 elections, despite strong opposition from the Conservatives during a heated and lengthy debate on Thursday.
The borough’s cabinet – a group of six Labour councillors responsible for major service areas – unanimously voted to propose that May’s elections be scrapped in response to the national government’s request for their opinions.
While the final decision rests with the government, if it concurs, those due for election would continue until the council’s dissolution as part of local government reorganisation, a process expected to conclude by April 2028.
Read more: Reform leader brands Nuneaton and Bedworth council boss ‘squatter’ over election delay call
Read more: Coventry 2026 local elections – everything you need to know and what’s different this year
If the transition towards unitary authorities – a single tier of local government replacing the current two-tier county and borough system across Warwickshire – is completed on schedule, councillors would be elected to the new authority in 2027.
The existing borough council, like other districts and boroughs across Warwickshire, will continue to operate services but will increasingly have less influence from the 2027 elections when a new ‘shadow’ authority takes effect.
The limited scope, the magnitude of the work involved in transitioning to unitary, the effort required to establish a new town council for Rugby, and the fact that many councils in similar situations have postponed elections in the past were the primary reasons given at the Town Hall on Thursday night.
Cabinet members were invited to share their perspectives and were clearly prepared for criticism amid claims that cancelling elections would be undemocratic, particularly with Labour performing poorly in the polls.
Councillor Maggie O’Rourke (Benn) began by highlighting the substantial additional work needed in Rugby to establish a town council, alleging such proposals had been “blocked” by former Conservative leader Seb Lowe during his tenure.
She also raised concerns about staffing capacity given the borough’s impending dissolution. “The best tend to go quite early when they don’t feel they have any control because of reorganisation,” she added.
Councillor Claire Edwards (Coton & Boughton) challenged Conservatives wanting elections to step down and trigger by-elections.
Keep up with the latest news from across Warwickshire with our FREE email newsletter.
“I won’t stand in your way,” she said. “Please do take that in the manner it is sent in your direction.”
She noted that the council already operating without overall control had resulted in a “co-operative working scenario” which was “actually making progress”, arguing for concentrating on securing “the very best deal for Rugby” before the reorganisation.
“That has to be our focus rather than doing manifestos saying we are going to shut up shop,” said Cllr Edwards.
Councillor Alison Livesey (Coton & Boughton) drew upon her professional experience as a consultant on local government transformation.
“One of the reasons people like me do the job that I do is because no matter how willing council officers are, they cannot be in two places at once,” she said. “Holding elections now is looking to the past and we really need to focus on the future.”
Councillor Louise Robinson (Admirals & Cawston) sought to calm the political controversy.
“We are not making the decision, the central government will,” she said.
“This hasn’t just gone out to Labour councils, it is not party political. My understanding is that if any council requests it and it meets the threshold, the minister has indicated the willingness to cancel elections.
“It feels transparent and open, it applies to all and doesn’t feel to me that it is biased in any particular way. It feels like a pragmatic decision.”
The Government consulted the 63 councils in this situation, explaining this followed “several” raising capacity concerns about managing both elections and local government restructuring simultaneously.
Opposition leader Councillor Derek Poole (Con, Wolston & the Lawfords) questioned whether Rugby had been amongst those councils, with leader Councillor Michael Moran (Lab, Admirals & Cawston) confirming it had not.
Cllr Poole further contended that the seamless delivery of the administration’s programme was “not relevant to the decision” and that it fell to “down to the voters” to determine whether that should continue, “not you”.
His deputy Councillor Simon Ward (Con, Wolston & the Lawfords) scrutinised the primary justification cited by Government for cancellations – council capacity.
“The report of the chief executive does not identify any such challenges,” he said. Citing the council’s report, which noted that elected members “may wish to extend the case that the process of local government reorganisation will be extremely resource intensive”, Cllr Ward remarked: “This implies that the case is not self-evident and that it needs to be extended to meet the criteria set out by the government.”
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Councillor Isabelle McKenzie (Rokeby & Overslade) explained her group was scheduled to convene on Monday (January 12) before submitting its position to the government, whilst sharing personal observations and outlining key considerations.
“I have never missed a vote in my life and am always going to start by wanting elections,” she said.
“As Liberal Democrats we have nothing to fear from these elections and are targeting gains. From that point of view, cancellations would be personally disappointing for us as I have some great people waiting in the wings.”
Nevertheless, she recognised this must be weighed against the possibility of a “massive permanent democratic deficit” should a town council fail to be established for Rugby.
“There is absolutely no guarantee that the shadow or new unitary would allow us to do so if we don’t get on with it now,” she added.
“The staff that need to do that work are in the elections team, that’s where the capability sits within the organisation. This work hasn’t really started yet.”
Leader’s comments Cllr Moran criticised the Tories regarding their stance on resources.
“The fact we are at this point now and you maybe don’t grasp how significant the challenge is facing this council, and other councils, is a concern,” he stated.
He cautioned that 2026 could “run away with itself” and that the borough’s resources had been “stripped to the bone in the past 20 years”, making him “very aware of the limitations of what is possible”.
“Yes, absolutely, the elections could go ahead,” he confirmed.
“The reality that dawns as 2026 progresses and we get further information on local government reorganisation, that challenge is going to come fast over the horizon.”
Read more on Coventry Telegraph
