Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's oral statement of 18 December 2025 on Local Government Reorganisation, whether his Department plans to require councils whose elections will be cancelled in May 2026 to include opposition councillors in their administration.

We have been clear that how local councils respond is up to them to decide locally with a view to their local processes and governance. The Secretary of State will consider all views provided, together with any other representations received, before final decisions are made.

Where an election is postponed for one year, provision to extend existing councillors’ terms of office would be made. The Government has no plans to amend governance requirements for these councils.