Keir Starmer combined several local authorities to make merged councils – but the election of their new mayors has been delayed.

Labour has set alarm bells ringing after reports claimed the government is set to postpone four mayoral elections by two years.

The Sun has revealed that four new combined authorities – Essex, Hampshire and the Solent, Sussex and Brighton, and Norfolk and Suffolk – will not get to choose their mayors until 2028.

The four combined authorities were due to have elections in May, when other council elections will take place.

A written ministerial statement is expected on Thursday, allegedly explaining that the delay will offer these new combined councils more time to deal with their new structures.

It comes after the government merged several councils into one with an extension of its devolution priority programme in February, meant to offer “sweeping” new powers for local authorities.

According to the newspaper, ministers will also pledge £200 million........

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