Nigel Farage has branded Labour a “banana republic” after the Government revealed local elections across Britain could be postponed again.The Government today confirmed ministers have written to as many as 63 local authorities offering them the opportunity to delay next year’s elections to 2027.Plans to delay the elections will mean millions of Britons will face longer waits to have their say at the ballot box.Reacting to the news, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas.”Tory county councils look set to collude with Labour to keep their control until 2027.”He added: “Only a banana republic bans elections.”Some councils had raised concerns elections could divert substantial time and resources away from delivering local government reorganisation, as new councillors only serve briefly before their councils are replaced with new ones.Elections in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hampshire, East and West Sussex were already postponed this year until 2026.Surrey County Council had its elections delayed this year however, voters are expected to go to the ballot box in May.Nigel Farage branded Labour a ‘banana republic’ | PAMeanwhile, Hampshire County Council has made clear it will not push for a further delay.Under controversial plans, Labour is looking to end the two-tier system of county and district councils, instead creating several larger councils covered by a directly elected mayor with additional devolved powers.New, unitary authorities are expected to be up and running in April 2028.Local government minister Alison McGovern said: “We have listened to councils who’ve told us of the challenges they face reorganising while preparing for resource-intensive elections for areas which may shortly be abolished.Local government minister Alison McGovern said the Government will ‘listen to local leaders’ on what is right for their area | POOL”Our goal is to create new councils who can improve services for residents and it is only right that we listen to councils,” she added.Speaking on the decision to delay local elections, Ms McGovern made clear Whitehall does not wish to dictate local decisions without consultation and they will “listen to local leaders” on what is right for each area.She said: “To be clear, should a council say that they have no reason to delay their elections, there will be no delay,” the minister said.”If a council voices genuine concerns, we’ll take these issues seriously, and would be minded to grant a delay in those areas.”In the wake of the decision, a petition was launched by Reform UK to reverse the decision.At time of writing, the petition has passed 115,000 signatures.Speaking to Martin Daubney, GB News’ Chief Political Correspondent, Katherine Forster said: “I was in a lobby briefing with the Prime Minister’s official spokesman a bit earlier.”They say that they totally reject that [Mar Farage’s banana republic claims].”They say that what this is about is a huge reorganisation of local government that hasn’t been done for 50 years.”They’re getting rid of local councils, district councils and county councils are scrapping them completely, replacing them with bigger councils to manage local government.”Ministers have invited 63 areas to set out their views, with a deadline of January 15.It is understood the following councils have been invited:Adur District CouncilBasildon Borough CouncilBasingstoke and Deane Borough CouncilBlackburn with Darwen CouncilBrentwood Borough CouncilBroxbourne Borough CouncilBurnley Borough CouncilCambridge City CouncilCannock Chase District CouncilCheltenham Borough CouncilCherwell District CouncilChorley Borough CouncilCity of Lincoln CouncilColchester City CouncilCrawley Borough CouncilEast Sussex County CouncilEastleigh Borough CouncilEpping Forest District CouncilEssex County CouncilExeter City CouncilFareham Borough CouncilGosport Borough CouncilHampshire County CouncilHarlow District CouncilHart District CouncilHastings Borough CouncilHavant Borough CouncilHuntingdonshire District CouncilHyndburn Borough CouncilIpswich Borough CouncilIsle of Wight CouncilNewcastle-under-Lyme Borough CouncilNorfolk County CouncilNorth East Lincolnshire CouncilNorwich City CouncilNuneaton and Bedworth Borough CouncilOxford City CouncilPendle Borough CouncilPeterborough City CouncilPlymouth City CouncilPortsmouth City CouncilPreston City CouncilRedditch Borough CouncilRochford District CouncilRugby Borough CouncilRushmoor Borough CouncilSouth Cambridgeshire District CouncilSouthampton City CouncilSouthend-on-Sea City CouncilSt Albans City and District CouncilStevenage Borough CouncilSuffolk County CouncilTamworth Borough CouncilThree Rivers District CouncilThurrock CouncilTunbridge Wells Borough CouncilWatford Borough CouncilWatford Borough Council MayorWelwyn Hatfield Borough CouncilWest Lancashire Borough CouncilWest Oxfordshire District CouncilWest Sussex County CouncilWinchester City CouncilWorthing Borough Council