Council elections in areas pursuing devolution reform

That this House notes with deep concern reports that elections in council areas included in the Government’s devolution priority programme, including in Surrey, may be delayed for a second consecutive year; further notes that such a delay would extend the terms of sitting county councillors beyond their democratic mandate, thereby undermining public confidence in local democracy; recognises that residents across affected counties have already expressed widespread dismay at the cancellation of elections scheduled for May 2025; believes that any further postponement would represent an unacceptable democratic deficit and set a troubling precedent for the suspension of regular electoral processes; calls on the Government to ensure that local government reorganisation and devolution reforms are conducted in a fair, transparent and politically impartial manner; further calls on Ministers to provide immediate clarification to Parliament by outlining what discussions have been held with Conservative council leaders and what lobbying or consultation has taken place across affected counties; and urges the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to rule out any further delay to county elections, ensuring that residents retain their right to elect representatives at the earliest opportunity.