Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) not allowing councillors whose terms expire to sit for an extra year in areas where elections are postponed and (b) allowing councils in those areas to operate with two thirds of councillors.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Secretary of State announced on 22 January 2026 that he intends to bring forward legislation to postpone for one year the elections due in May 2026 to councils including Thurrock Council. That legislation will include any consequential amendments to other Orders that are required in order to implement the Secretary of State’s decision. I remain committed to the indicative timetable that was published in July, that sees elections to new councils in May 2027 and those councils going live in April 2028.
The Secretary of State intends to follow precedent for all previous postponements of elections in relation to local government reorganisation and to extend the term of office of councillors who would otherwise have retired in May 2026. This ensures that councils continue to operate with the designated number of councillors in total and for each ward.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer to Question 107848 on 27 January 2026, if he will publish (a) the list of attendees and (b) the minutes of his meeting with Norfolk County Council on 16 December 2025.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The meeting was attended by representatives from Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils: Cllr Matthew Hicks, Nicola Beach, Andrew Cook, Cllr Kay Mason Billig and Tom McCabe.
My Department has no plans to publish the minutes of the meeting.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to amend the scheme of elections updated by the Thurrock (Electoral Changes) Orders of 2024 and 2025 so that the 2025 and 2026 delayed elections taking place in 2027 will be for the whole of the council.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Secretary of State announced on 22 January 2026 that he intends to bring forward legislation to postpone for one year the elections due in May 2026 to councils including Thurrock Council. That legislation will include any consequential amendments to other Orders that are required in order to implement the Secretary of State’s decision. I remain committed to the indicative timetable that was published in July, that sees elections to new councils in May 2027 and those councils going live in April 2028.
The Secretary of State intends to follow precedent for all previous postponements of elections in relation to local government reorganisation and to extend the term of office of councillors who would otherwise have retired in May 2026. This ensures that councils continue to operate with the designated number of councillors in total and for each ward.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Councils granted flexibility to finish reorganisation, published on 22 January 2026, whether he has received and representations from Basildon Borough Council councillors on postponing elections.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
As set out to Parliament on 22 January, in reaching his decisions the Secretary of State carefully considered all the representations made, including those relating to elections in Basildon. The Secretary of State did not meet with the Leader of Basildon Council on the topic of 2026 local elections prior to the announcement of 22 January.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he received representations from people in the unitary authority of Thurrock council before announcing the postponement of elections in Thurrock.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In reaching his decisions, as set out to Parliament on 22 January, the Secretary of State carefully considered all the representations made, including those relating to elections in Thurrock. The Secretary of State did not have meetings with the Leader of Thurrock Council on 2026 local elections, prior to the announcement of 22 January.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he had discussions with the Leader of Thurrock Council before announcing the delay to the 2026 local elections in Thurrock.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In reaching his decisions, as set out to Parliament on 22 January, the Secretary of State carefully considered all the representations made, including those relating to elections in Thurrock. The Secretary of State did not have meetings with the Leader of Thurrock Council on 2026 local elections, prior to the announcement of 22 January.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delaying elections on the timing of his decision on the composition of the new councils in Essex.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In reaching his decisions on 2026 elections, as set out to the House on 22 January 2026, the Secretary of State adopted a locally led approach and carefully considered all the representations made.
The consultation on the final proposals for Essex, Southend‑on‑Sea and Thurrock closed on 11 January. We will now assess the proposals against the criteria in the invitation and decide, subject to parliamentary approval, which, if any, proposals are to be implemented, with or without modification. The postponement of some May 2026 elections does not affect the timing of these decisions, and the indicative timetable for local government reorganisation remains unchanged.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of holding some elections, but not others, in Essex on the local government reorganisation progress.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In reaching his decisions on 2026 elections, as set out to the House on 22 January 2026, the Secretary of State adopted a locally led approach and carefully considered all the representations made.
The consultation on the final proposals for Essex, Southend‑on‑Sea and Thurrock closed on 11 January. We will now assess the proposals against the criteria in the invitation and decide, subject to parliamentary approval, which, if any, proposals are to be implemented, with or without modification. The postponement of some May 2026 elections does not affect the timing of these decisions, and the indicative timetable for local government reorganisation remains unchanged.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with its counterparts in Guinea on the rights of political prisoners.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK regularly raises concerns with the authorities in Guinea over human rights, democracy, freedom of expression, and the rule of law, including arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on political freedoms, civil society and peaceful protest.
Since the December 2025 elections, our Ambassador has pressed the Guinean authorities, including security officials, to ensure due process, and release detainees being held without charge. The UK is also continuing to support efforts to strengthen good governance and access to justice.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussion her Department has had with its counterparts in Guinea on the right to peaceful protest.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK regularly raises concerns with the authorities in Guinea over human rights, democracy, freedom of expression, and the rule of law, including arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on political freedoms, civil society and peaceful protest.
Since the December 2025 elections, our Ambassador has pressed the Guinean authorities, including security officials, to ensure due process, and release detainees being held without charge. The UK is also continuing to support efforts to strengthen good governance and access to justice.