The UK government has dropped its controversial plan to delay 30 local elections set for May. The move came after legal advice suggested the delay might be unlawful. The government had wanted to postpone elections while reorganising some local councils, possibly merging or absorbing them. Ministers argued it made no sense to hold elections for councils that might not exist in a year or two. However, opposition parties and Reform UK strongly opposed this plan, calling it anti-democratic. Reform UK launched a legal challenge, with their case due this month. On Monday, the government confirmed these elections will now go ahead in May 2026 as planned. A spokesperson said, “Following legal advice, the government has withdrawn its original decision to postpone 30 local elections in May.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.” A government lawyer wrote to Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage saying that the housing minister Matthew Pennycook reviewed the legality and decided the elections should continue this year. Farage posted on X, “We took this Labour government to court and won. In collusion with the Tories, Keir Starmer tried to stop 4.6 million people voting on May 7th. Only Reform UK fights for democracy.” More details are expected soon.