Delay to county elections is assault on democracy

Surrey Lib Dems are outraged that the 2025 county elections have now been delayed until 2026. Over the last few years Surrey residents have been demonstrating their dissatisfaction with the county’s Conservative-run authorities at the ballot box; five of the eleven district/borough councils now being under Lib Dem control with a further two part-controlled under a coalition arrangement. The local elections in May 2025 would have given voters in Surrey the chance to oust the Conservatives at county level.

The decision was taken by the new Labour government in response to a request from the current county council’s administration, while also confirming Surrey’s inclusion on its fast-track programme for local government reorganisation and subsequent devolution. The ambitious timeframe for establishing one or more unitary authorities to cover the whole county would instead see councillors elected to serve on the new interim ‘shadow’ councils in May 2026.

Following the announcement the Leader of Surrey Lib Dems Paul Follows, echoed the views expressed by fellow Lib Dem councillors and MPS in stating that democracy delayed, was democracy denied. 

He went on to say: “We are certainly living in interesting times. Labour has put forward a turbo-charged agenda for shaking up the way local government operates and the Conservative administration in Surrey has decided to jump right in with both feet. It means that those currently in power can avoid going to the electorate for a verdict on how they are running services in the county and how in particular they are failing to support some of our most vulnerable residents.”