COUNCILLOR Luke Taylor, Liberal Democrat Leader of Mid Devon District Council, has condemned the Labour Government’s proposal to cancel local elections in May 2026, warning that it risks undermining democracy in Devon and disenfranchising thousands of voters for nakedly political reasons.

The comments follow a letter from the Government inviting councils to give their views on postponing elections, a move which has already been rejected by Liberal Democrat Leader of Devon County Council and criticised by political leaders across the county.

Cllr Taylor said: “Cancelling elections is not an administrative process - it is the denial of democracy. Voters in Devon did not ask to have their voices taken away, and they should not be told that losing their vote is somehow ‘for their own good’. That is political arrogance of the highest order.”

The Liberal Democrats have already described the proposal as “dangerous”.

Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, said cancelling elections amounted to “double dealing and dishonesty”, comments which Cllr Taylor said he fully supports.

Cllr Taylor added: “This Labour Government talks about renewing trust in politics, yet its first instinct when support is falling is to cancel elections. That is not reform - it is running scared.

“If Government is serious about reforming local government, it must do so transparently, properly resourced, and with the consent of the public - not by quietly cancelling elections when they face losing control of Labour-run councils.”

Local elections are currently scheduled to take place in Plymouth and Exeter in May 2026 for one third of council seats. Both councils are run by Labour. Plymouth’s Labour leadership has said its election will go ahead, with Labour MPs claiming they will be “fighting for every vote”.

However, serious concerns remain over Labour-run Exeter City Council, where 13 of the 39 seats are due to be contested and where Labour could realistically lose control. A report going to Exeter City Council next week sets out arguments for accepting the Government’s offer to postpone elections.

Cllr Taylor said: “The contrast could not be clearer. Where Labour’s position is safe, elections are suddenly a matter of principle. Where Labour could lose power, democracy becomes optional. That does not pass the smell test - and voters can see exactly what is going on.”

Cllr Taylor is urging Exeter City Council to send a united message rejecting the cancellation of elections and demanding that, if ministers insist on scrapping the two-tier system and imposing new unitary councils, the process must be fully funded and backed by a democratic mandate.

“If Labour wants to restructure local government, it must pay for it and put the case to voters. Devon’s residents should not be forced to foot the bill - and they should certainly not be stripped of their democratic rights to protect Labour from electoral losses.”

He added: “Democracy in Devon is not an inconvenience to be managed away. It is a right. Cancelling elections because the outcome might be politically awkward sets a dangerous precedent - and one that the Liberal Democrats will oppose at every level.”