Mayoral elections for new devolved areas pushed back

Voters in Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria will go to the polls to elect combined authority mayors in May 2027, a year later than planned.

Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria were among the areas selected as part of the fast-track devolution process earlier this year.

Both recently requested for the mayoral elections to be pushed back 12 months to save costs.

The delay would also allow for more time to plan for the move to a devolved system after the government dragged its feet on letting the areas know if they had passed the statutory devolution tests.

The government has confirmed both areas have passed the tests and also agreed to grant the request to delay the elections.

They will now be held at the same time as the next wave of local elections in Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria, which will result in reduced costs and higher turnout, the councils concerned believe.

“The timing of these elections will not affect the speed of establishment of the combined authorities in these areas,” according to devolution minster Jim McMahon.