Four million Britons are set to be denied a chance to vote in the May local elections today.

In total, 27 councils are expected to ask to postpone their polls before Thursday’s deadline – including 21 run by Labour.

Twenty-one councils already have, 34 will not – and eight were still to confirm their position as of Wednesday night.

Last month, ministers told 63 local authorities they would green-light election delays if there were “genuine concerns” about delivering them alongside Labour’s overhaul of local government.

After the deadline passes, Local Government Secretary Steve Reed is set to approve the requests, meaning that nearly 600 councillors, including just shy of 200 Labour councillors, will be able to keep their jobs for at least another year.

Under a clause in the 200 Local Government Act, Mr Reed can change the year in which elections will be held.

But Labour has now been accused of “running scared” from voters as the party continues a years-long polling slump.

The Tories were quick to attack the Government – frontbencher Sir James Cleverly said Labour were “denying democracy and running scared of voters’ verdict on their appalling leadership”.

“Having promised elections would go ahead, they have U-turned again,” he added.

But Reform UK chief Nigel Farage went on to warn of “collusion” between Labour and the Conservatives – while his party is set to challenge the Government in the courts.

“How dare the Tory fraudsters complain about cancelled elections,” Mr Farage blasted. “Seven Conservative councils colluded with Labour to cancel elections last year.

“Three will repeat it for a second year in a row. Never trust what they say.”

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Even the Electoral Commission has raised doubts over the delays – it has outlined how the power to shift them back should only be used in exceptional circumstances like the Covid pandemic, and questioned whether a local government shakeup meets that threshold.

And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey – whose party also stands to gain at the locals – added: “We must never allow this to happen again.

“The law should be changed so that ministers cannot simply delay elections at the stroke of a pen.”

James Cleverly, the shadow local government secretary, condemned the decision, stating: “It cannot be right that some elected representatives will now be serving seven-year terms. Residents have a right to choose who represents them, and the Government must respect that right.”

He accused the governing party of avoiding electoral scrutiny, saying: “Labour are denying democracy and running scared of voters’ verdict on their appalling leadership. Having promised elections would go ahead, they have U-turned again.”

The Conservatives opposed delaying elections last year and have pledged to vote against the postponements once more. Cleverly insisted: “Democracy must prevail and voters must be able to make their voices heard.”

The cancellations mark the second year running that local elections have been delayed, with the government citing restructuring as justification despite the electoral watchdog’s reservations.

This pattern has intensified concerns among opposition politicians that the administration is exploiting procedural mechanisms to avoid electoral accountability during a period of significant unpopularity.