There has been some initial inaccurate reporting in a number of outlets that a High Court order today ruled the government cannot proceed with potential postponements to some local elections in areas undergoing reorganisation.
This is entirely wrong and misleading. No decisions have been made yet over any delays.
It is actually the case that the High Court judge determined a further hearing would take place on 19 February and 20 February. There is no block in place in relation to the laying of the Statutory Instruments required to allow any postponement to local elections.
This is an ongoing process and there is a clear precedent for postponing local elections where local government reorganisation is in progress, as happened between 2019 and 2021.
These are exceptional circumstances where councils have told us they're struggling to prepare for resource-intensive elections to councils that will shortly be abolished, while also reorganising into more efficient authorities that can better serve local residents.
Today the court gave a date on which it would consider this challenge. Nothing more than that.