ELECTIONS for Thurrock's 49 councillors are now back on - after the Labour government announced a U-turn on its plans to cancel them. It seems likely that it will be 'all-out elections' for 49 seats, which ws the original proposal for Thurrock under guidance from its commissioners.

Originally 16 seats were set for elections in May under the council's existing thirds policy.

Ministers today (Monday, 16 February) confirmed that they would be revoking their legislation that would have delayed the polls.

A government spokesperson said: "Following legal advice, the Government has withdrawn its original decision to postpone 30 local elections in May.

"Providing certainty to councils about their local elections is now the most crucial thing and all local elections will now go ahead in May 2026."

The dramatic climbdown by Labour came after a legal challenge by Reform to the move to postpone votes for more than 4.5million people. The government will now pay Reform's legal costs after admitting they got things wrong.

Thurrock Council's Labour leader Cllr Lynn Worrall said: "In all the discussions about whether or not elections should go ahead in areas undergoing local government reorganisation (LGR), I have been clear that the decision was one that only the Government could take.

advertisement

"They asked for, and we provided, our considered view about capacity within the council to simultaneously deliver elections, and prepare for LGR, whilst also continuing on our improvement journey under Government intervention. They then wrote to us last month confirming that elections would be postponed.

"Whilst it is disappointing that this decision has been reversed so late in the day, we have always stood ready to deliver all out elections in Thurrock this May, and we will now move forward with our plans.

"Capacity remains a challenge, and so we welcome today's announcement that more funding will be released to support councils going through significant and complex change."

Local Reform group leader Cllr Alex Anderson said: "Just a few weeks ago, in an act of pathetic desperation, Thurrock Labour conspired with ministers in Westminster to deny the people of Thurrock their vote in May.

"Their own government have now abandoned them.

"If any Thurrock Labour councillor wants to get 'Made to look a fool by Keir Starmer' tattooed on their forehead, I'll pay for it.

"Reform took the government to court to 'Stop The Steal'. In addition to being forced into another embarrassing U-turn, the government will now pay Reform's legal costs.

"Despite the Labour Party's best efforts, on the 7th of May the people of Thurrock will have an opportunity to elect their local representatives. Thurrock Reform will stand candidates in every seat and democracy will have its day, as it always should have."

Thurrock Council's Conservative opposition group leader Cllr George Coxshall said: "As usual, the Labour Government has u-turned and agreed that it was wholly wrong to attempt to postpone May's local elections.

"I have never once supported plans to postpone our elections and have been deeply concerned about how openly the Labour Government offered postponement opportunities, despite having no confirmed vision for Local Government Reorganisation.

"From day one, I have said that the timetable for Local Government Reorganisation was not fit for purpose and that it was a weak case for postponing local elections on the grounds of 'capacity concerns.'

"The complete dismissal of the Electoral Commission's concerns has now come home to roost, with today's announcement demonstrating just how weak this Labour Government really is.

"We all know why the Government wanted to postpone elections - it knows it is about to get a pasting and was hiding behind the fig leaf of Local Government Reorganisation.

"Well, you can't escape democracy. Here in Thurrock, the elections would have been cancelled for a second year. I am quite appalled that the Labour Council asked to avoid the ballot box without any clarity about the future."

Thurrock's Labour MP Jen Craft said: "In the months leading up to polling day, it's important that we focus on what matters most to our community.

"Under the Tories, Thurrock experienced the most severe bankruptcy in local government history. Since then, families like yours and mine have seen our council tax hiked up, services for the vulnerable slashed, and community assets sold off.

"Labour's had the difficult job of rebuilding, clawing back £660 million and sending the Serious Fraud Office after the worst perpetrators.

"Recovery efforts will continue, but the priority now must be Local Government Reorganisation: a programme of reform where Thurrock will merge with neighbouring councils to form a stronger, more financially stable organisation - delivering the public services we deserve.

"Local leaders have raised understandable concerns about holding costly, disruptive elections for a council that won't exist in the near future.

"However, Ministers have committed to providing additional funding for the transition ahead, to help reduce the financial burden.

"So, for the next few months, I'll be out on the doorsteps supporting Labour's candidates. If you see me, don't hesitate to come and have a chat.

"It's easy to get lost in the noise of national politics but, here in Thurrock, Labour is delivering. We've got 20 GPs training nearby, eight new Community Police Officers, the first of the Government's free primary school breakfast clubs, and a new youth zone in the works.

"It's an important start, and one I look forward to building on with our local councillors."