Cheshire devolution: Lib Dems criticise mayoral election delay
The ministry of housing, communities and local government spokesperson said leaders of the councils had requested the delay to "simplify the elections process for voters and save taxpayers' money".The Conservative opposition on both Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester councils had first called for the delay and welcomed the move.Gowland said there had been "no consultation with elected councillors, no engagement with opposition groups, and no public transparency" on the decision.The county will choose its first mayor to head a new combined authority consisting of the three councils, which is set to come into being at the beginning of 2026.Gowland said the delay to 2027 aligned with local elections in two areas of Cheshire, but Warrington's next local elections were not until 2028.He said: "More concerning is the possibility that we now lose a full year of access to devolution funding—money that could be invested in vital transport, infrastructure and skills projects starting from June 2026. "Residents should not pay the price for a politically convenient delay."
Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
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