Cumbria asks govt to push mayoral election back a year

Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council have written to the devolution minister requesting that the proposed May 2026 election is delayed until 2027.

Cumbria was selected as part of the government’s fast-track devolution programme earlier this year with a provisional date of May 2026 set for the mayoral election.

However, the county’s two local authorities have asked that this be pushed back due to delays in the process, to save money, and to ensure a higher turnout of voters.

A statement issued by the two councils said that, with less than a year to go until the planned election, the government “has yet to confirm that statutory tests have been met and that devolution in Cumbria can proceed”.

In a letter to Jim McMahon, minister for English devolution and local governance, the councils state: “This request is made in the spirit of constructive partnership and with a shared ambition to ensure the strongest possible foundations for a successful new governance model that delivers for the people of Cumbria.”

Local elections for Cumberland Council and Westmorland & Furness Council are both scheduled for 2027.

Holding a mayoral election on the same date would save around £1m if held as a stand-alone election and support a higher turnout of voters, the councils said.