THE Government has announced Local Elections in England, will be postponed for a year to May 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Warrington Borough Council was due to have all out elections on Thursday, May 7. The Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner election was also due to take place.
As a result a candidates and agents briefing planned to take place at 6pm on Monday 16 March, at the Gateway, Sankey Street, has been cancelled.
Downing Street has announced it would be impractical to hold the elections as planned, as they would come during the peak of the spread of the virus.
Polls were due in 118 English councils, the London Assembly and seven English regional mayors.
It comes after the Electoral Commission said on Thursday the elections should be delayed until the autumn to “mitigate” the impact of the virus.
Ten people have died with the virus, with 798 cases confirmed UK-wide.
The Cabinet Office said it would be bringing forward legislation to enact the delay in England, and would work to ensure the Welsh authorities had the same powers.
The last time elections were delayed was in 2001, during the foot and mouth outbreak.
So far there is just one confirmed case of Coronavirus in Warrington.
