The upcoming London Mayoral Election has been put back a year in consequence of coronavirus.
Scheduled for 7 May 2020, the election will now take place at some date in 2021. Other local elections, including 118 council elections, will also be shunted to 2021.
The UK Electoral Commission had only yesterday proposed a delay until the autumn. The reasons are manifold. The election would come at the expected peak of the virus, resulting in inadequate staffing of polling stations, little attention for campaigning, and an inevitably low turnout.
The postponement presumably means that incumbent Mayor Sadiq Khan will remain in the role for another year, and thus serve a five-year term.
The Government has taken the decision to postpone the May elections for a year. I will continue to work with the Government and experts to help London manage coronavirus over the weeks and months ahead. I will always do everything in my power to stand up for London. https://t.co/jkZXZEKtjo
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) March 13, 2020
