Elections postponed for a year due to Covid-19

The announcement follows the Electoral Commission’s recommendation that the polls should be delayed until autumn.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson 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."

According to BBC News, Downing Street said it would not be practical to go ahead with the elections in May as they would coincide with the peak of the virus. 

The Electoral Commission said the virus raised "serious concerns" for the elections, including increased strain on local authorities.