CLACTON’S MP says it is “disgraceful” that three councils across Essex want to cancel local elections, with a poll suggesting Reform UK would win in those areas.
The poll, by JL Partners, shows Reform UK would potentially win in Basildon, Harlow, and Thurrock this May, where local elections are due to be cancelled.
All three authorities want their elections scrapped due to the pressures local authorities are already facing from local government reform.
The council’s responses come after Alison McGovern, Minister for Local Government and Homelessness, met with council leaders regarding the work to merge the current 14 Essex authorities into three to five larger unitary councils.
The poll suggests Reform would win 34 per cent of the vote in Basildon, 30 per cent in Harlow, and 37 per cent in Thurrock.
Reform UK Leader and Clacton MP Nigel Farage said: “This poll proves that the establishment is cancelling local elections in Basildon, Harlow and Thurrock because they know Reform would win them.
“Denying elections is the disgraceful behaviour of a banana republic.
“Reform UK has launched a judicial review against this abuse of power by the government.”
JL Partners polled 4,441 adults across local authorities where the 2026 council election was due to be delayed or pending delay.
The poll took place between January 9 and January 15.
Data from the poll also shows 82 per cent of voters in areas where they could be cancelled, believe the elections should go ahead.
Two thirds of those polled say it is unacceptable to delay long-planned local elections in order to free up capacity for local government reorganisation
James Johnson, the co-founder of JL Partners, told the Telegraph the poll shows Reform was "set to sweep the board at the local elections in these councils".
He added: “Regardless of party, voters are furious when they hear about election cancellations."
The Government is expected to make a decision in the coming days on whether to postpone elections for a year.
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