DESPITE a bid to force the government to confirm local elections in Thurrock in May 2026 failing in parliament yesterday (Tuesday, 25 November), the MP for the east of the borough says he has been assured they will go ahead.

Elections earlier this year were postponed across Essex (and other areas of the country), because of pending local government reorganisation.

In Essex, in May, an election will take place for the new county-wide mayor – and elections to local councils are also scheduled.

For Thurrock that appears to mean an 'all-out' election for 49 seats across amended wards. That election, proposed by the government as part of its intervention in the management of Thurrock Council (see legislation via this link), was postponed but the government has said council elections will go ahead next year.

However, there remains an element of confusion as to what form they may take in Thurrock. Elections scheduled for May 2026 were originally for a third of the council's seats. Whether that will remain or will be replaced by the 'all-out' vote has not yet been confirmed, though the new ward boundary changes were confirmed in February this year.

Yesterday at Westminster a Conservative proposition asking for a block on any further delays for local government elections was defeated by 320 votes to 189.

In the wake of that, the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, James McMurdock says he has been assured the Thurrock Council elections will go ahead – and he believes it will be for all 49 seats.

Speaking today he said he has secured a firm commitment from the Government which says: "We are not cancelling elections in Thurrock in May 2026."

Mr McMurdock added: "The cancellation of local elections last year was an unjustified attack on the right of my constituents to decide who runs their local council. This concession from the Government for my Thurrock residents is welcome and this assurance marks a significant step forward for local democracy."

He says he will now press the government to provide the same unequivocal guarantee for Essex County Council and Basildon Council, ensuring that voters across the region can have their say.

However, there has been no formal confirmation from government or Thurrock Council about the election in the borough in May.

Ahead of yesterday's vote  government minister Mr Reed said his "preference" was for the votes to go ahead on May 7, but added there was "precedent" to call off elections if winning councillors would serve only short terms.

"Our vision on local government reorganisation is clear," Mr Reed told the Commons.

"We intend to create stronger single-tier local councils, better equipped to drive economic growth and improve local public services.

"The Government's intention remains for all elections scheduled for May 2026 to go ahead."

Devolution minister Miatta Fahnbulleh told MPs: "We understand the democratic necessity to hold elections – that is the right of voters and it is a right that we absolutely will protect and that we absolutely support.

"We on this side of the House are up for elections as much as any other party, so our clear intention is to press ahead with elections next year.

"The decision to postpone elections is never taken lightly and was not taken lightly when it was made – it is one that we will always do with caution."

Thurrock Council political leaders have been asked to comment, as has the council itself. The only response to date came from Reform group leader Cllr Alex Anderson who said: "I welcome any suggestion that Local Elections will take place across Thurrock next Year. Local democracy isn't a can to be kicked down the road by politicians frightened of the electorate.

 "After decades of playing pass the parcel with our borough, the two-party system is dead. Reform's Ockendon by-election landslide earlier this year spoke volumes. It's high time the rest of the borough got their say too."

If all out elections do take place they will be across new boundaries and with some new ward names. The changes were recommended by the Boundary Commission and have since been approved by parliament. They are detailed in this Nub News story from December last year.

The seats up for grabs will be:

Aveley 3

Belhus 3

Chadwell St Mary 3

Chafford Hundred East 2

Chafford Hundred West 2

Corringham & Fobbing 3

East Tilbury, Linford & West Tilbury 2

Grays Riverside 3

Grays Town 3

Little Thurrock Blackshots 2

Little Thurrock Rectory 2

Ockendon 3

Orsett, Horndon & Bulphan 2

Purfleet-on-Thames 2

Stanford-le-Hope South 3

Stifford 2

The Homesteads & Stanford-le-Hope North 3

Tilbury Riverside 2

Tilbury St Chads 2

West Thurrock & South Stifford 2