Coronavirus: Boris Johnson postpones May local elections amid Covid-19 outbreak

Downing Street opts for 12-month postponement rather than six months recommended by elections watchdog

The elections had been scheduled to take place on 7 May (PA)

The local and mayoral elections in May have been shelved because of the coronavirus – and for a full year, rather than for the expected six months.

The government has bowed to pressure from the Electoral Commission, which warned that there were “real risks” to going ahead for campaigners and voters.

Downing Street did not provide an immediate statement to explain why it had opted for a 12-month postponement, the longest in peacetime, also delaying the police and crime commissioner elections.

The decisive move is in stark contrast to the government's controversial decision to keep offices, schools and sporting events open for now, leaving ministers increasingly isolated.

The delay might help Labour, which was expected to take a hammering in May but will now hope to enjoy a revival under a new leader – expected to be Keir Starmer – by this time next year.

In the London mayoral election, Labour’s Sadiq Khan was predicted to romp home and win a second term against his Conservative rival, Shaun Bailey, and independent candidate Rory Stewart.

In a letter to ministers on Thursday, the Electoral Commission wrote: “We cannot be confident that voters will be able to participate in the polls safely, nor that campaigners and parties will be able to put their case to the electorate.

“We recommend the government now delay the 7 May polls until the autumn.”

Politicians are increasingly feeling the fallout from the coronavirus, with several MPs self-isolating – raising questions about how they will vote in the weeks ahead.

Labour has been forced to put on a “scaled-back event” to announce the result of its leadership contest on 4 April, cancelling a special conference and the remaining elections hustings.

The Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and Welsh Labour have all cancelled spring conferences.

In a statement, the government said: “We will bring forward legislation to postpone local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections until May next year.

“We will also work with the devolved administrations to ensure that they have the necessary powers to do the same.”