By Chris Gee

There will be no elections held in Greater Manchester in 2025.

There have never been any plans for voters to go to the polls in any of the 10 boroughs which make up the city region in 2025. And after Andy Burnham was elected in May, the next Greater Manchester mayoral run-off is not until 2028.

But that hasn't stopped some critics of the government claiming it is all a fix. Some have taken to social media to incorrectly say that elections in the borough have been cancelled due to fear of opposition parties. This is simply untrue.

Elsewhere in the country, where elections are due in 2025, there have been accusations from opposition party Reform that the governing Labour Party is 'running scared' amid talk of 'cancelled elections'.

Voters are due to head to the polls in the 21 county 'shire' councils in England in May. All of them have previously held whole-council elections on a four-year cycle that includes 2025.

(Image - Tiffany Tertipes)

However, that plan for next year has been thrown into doubt amid talk of 'delayed elections' as the government looks to reorganise some local authorities. Local government minister, Oldham MP Jim McMahon, wrote to leaders of counties and districts in two tier areas earlier in December, asking them to give a 'clear commitment' to devolution and reorganisation before January 10 if they want to 'postpone' elections.

The 21 county councils are due to hold all out elections on May 1 so the January deadline would allow the minister time in parliament required to cancel the polls.

Speaking after the launch of the English Devolution white paper launch, Mr McMahon said that the changes will rebuild 'local community power', and councils should focus on how to 'give local people a voice'.

He added that any delays to local elections will be temporary. However, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage claimed that cancelling elections in some areas of the country where Reform is gaining momentum is 'the act of a desperate government'. He accused Labour of 'running scared' from Reform.

(Image - Steve Houghton-Burnett / Unsplash)

Local elections and the poll for a metro mayor were held in all areas of Greater Manchester in May, 2024, closely followed the general election on July 4.

But the electorate will now have to wait until May 2026 to have their say on which councillors they want to represent them.

But amid some online chatter and disinformation of 'cancelled elections' in Greater Manchester, there is nothing unusual about the gap between polls.

The metropolitan district councils in Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Bury, Tameside, Trafford, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Wigan are set to elect members in 2026, 2027, 2028. In each of those years, a third of councillors for each authority will be voted in.

The 'fallow year' for Greater Manchester elections means voters will only go to the polls in 2025 in the eventuality of a by-election caused by the resignation, death or disbarment of a councillor.

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