Councillors are up for a May election

Isle of Wight political group leaders will tell Whitehall they do not want any further delay to local elections, after councils were asked for their views on postponing the May 2026 poll.

Local government and devolution minister, Alison McGovern has written to 63 local authorities where elections are scheduled and where local government reorganisation plans are still under consideration. She asked leaders whether a postponement could help free up “essential capacity” to support the process, noting that previous governments had delayed elections in areas undergoing reorganisation. She said the Secretary of State believed councils were best placed to judge the impact of any delay.

Cllr Ed Blake, Conservative group leader, said the Isle of Wight had already experienced one postponement and should reject any further suggestion of delay. He said Islanders had a right to vote in May 2026 and that the matter should not be up for debate.

Alliance group leader Cllr Phil Jordan said he had already made clear to government that he could not support another postponement. He said he would discuss the issue with councillors at a meeting on January 6, but noted that if no request for a delay was submitted, the elections would proceed as planned.

Reform UK group leader Cllr Bill Nigh said there was no justification for further postponement and that residents should not be denied the chance to elect their representatives. Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Andrew Garratt said his group also opposed any further delay, calling it untenable.

Cllr Chris Jarman, leader of the Empowering Islanders group is also opposed to any postponement.

There have been similar sentiments expressed across the Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton areas.