Reform UK Hampshire has issued a stark warning that postponing local elections for a second year risks further eroding public trust in British politics, amid mounting speculation that county council leaders are lobbying for a fresh delay until 2027.
According to reporting in The Times, several Conservative-led county councils—including Hampshire—are seeking to extend their terms while the Government finalises plans for new “devolved authority” structures. Reform UK argues that even the suggestion of such a move exposes the reluctance of established parties to face the electorate.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, condemned the situation in uncompromising terms, saying: “On May 1, the English county elections were cancelled in East Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey and West Sussex. Angela Rayner, then Deputy Prime Minister, simply cancelled the elections and said they were delayed by a year. Coincidentally, they were all areas where Reform was expected to win.
Now, Tory council leaders have written to the Government asking for them to be postponed yet again, and in two cases, openly admitting they want the elections cancelled because they fear Reform will win. It is a complete and total outrage. People elected back in 2021 could now serve six or seven years without a fresh mandate. Why should people pay their council tax if they’re denied the right to vote for those making decisions that affect their lives?”
In response, Reform UK has launched a nationwide petition, LetThePeopleVote.com, urging the public to demand that all local elections go ahead as scheduled.
Dr Alexander Culley, Hampshire County Organiser for Reform UK, echoed Farage’s concerns: “Whatever the party, when politicians start inventing reasons to avoid elections, it tells you everything about the state of our democracy. Across the country, we’re seeing a culture of fear, arrogance, and entitlement from those who believe power is theirs by right. Voters deserve a say, not a delay.”
Recent comments from Nick Adams-King, Leader of Hampshire County Council, have also drawn scrutiny. Adams-King defended his party’s ‘transformation programme’ and took aim at other councils’ financial strategies. Reform UK Hampshire argues that if council leaders are so confident in their record, they should have no hesitation in putting it to the test at the ballot box.
The backdrop to this row is a sharp decline in public confidence in politics. The latest British Social Attitudes survey (BSA 42) found that just 12% of people trust governments to prioritise the nation’s interests “always or most of the time,” while nearly half—46%—say they “almost never” do. Only 5% trust politicians to tell the truth when under pressure (NatCen, 2025). “In that environment, even floating the idea of cancelling elections sends the worst possible signal,” said Dr Culley.
Reform UK Hampshire has called on ministers to guarantee that all scheduled local elections will proceed as planned.
