Angry Warwickshire councillors say that uncertainty over which councils they will seek election to in 2027 is "messing with people's lives".

The national government announced delays to its local government reorganisation programme this week, pausing the abolition of Warwickshire's six county, district and borough councils and the formation of two new unitary authorities – one for the north and one for the south – to replace them.

The plan was for councillors for the two new unitaries to be elected in May 2027, forming a 'shadow' authority to aid the transition before taking full charge on a four-year term from April 2028.

In announcing the pause on Monday (September 7), Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner MP (Lab) insisted the 2027 local elections "will go ahead on existing council boundaries" but later cast doubt on that in answering questions from MPs.

She said: "Local elections scheduled to take place to existing councils in May 2027 will go ahead unless we are in a position to hold elections to new unitary councils at that point."

With the timescales already tight, it is more than likely that the votes will be for the existing councils but the lack of certainty means parties and individual candidates are in the dark over exactly what they are getting themselves into.

Candidates who intended to stand for the unitaries may now have to consider whether they wish to put their names down for a potentially much shorter term at district and borough councils that may not exist two years down the track.

People who had chosen not put their names forward for seats on unitary councils with far bigger legal responsibilities like adult social care, health and highways may now wish to help their respective districts and boroughs through to conclusion, but the small risk that the unitary ballots could still happen next year remains.

It will also impact on the areas of focus and resources of local parties. The districts of Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick and the borough of North Warwickshire are scheduled to contest all-out elections, meaning every seat and overall power is in play. Only a third of Rugby Borough Council's seats are up for grabs and there are no elections due in Nuneaton & Bedworth.

If the unitary elections are contested in 2027, everyone then has to hit the campaign trail.

Ms Rayner leaving the door ajar on unitary elections was news to Warwickshire County Council leader Cllr George Finch and the leader of the opposition Cllr Sarah Boad, both of whom separately declared their understanding that unitary elections were off the table.

"The whole thing has been up and down," said Cllr Finch.

"We have a letter from Jim McMahon where he has said something completely different (to Ms Rayner). It is a complete mess and really unhelpful.

"I think we will all agree that this is confusing, chaotic and shambolic."

Cllr Boad said: "People will have made life decisions.

"Suddenly everything changes. People who could not do the unitary might now stand for the district. It is really messing with people's lives and I suspect they don't even think about that human side of it.

"It is not just the delay, it is the uncertainty of when, if, how and when. And the cost. It is just bonkers."

Nevertheless, Cllr Boad was not surprised having always believed the Labour government would not wish to risk handing out five-year terms to councillors – one in the shadow authority and four years in full control – in areas that the party might not do well in.

"I wonder if that was a part of the decision making," she said.

"I have said that for a long, long time. Electorally this is much better for Labour than going ahead with the shadow elections."

The leader of Warwickshire County Council's Labour group Cllr Sarah Feeney, who anticipates a one-year delay to the rollout of unitaries in Warwickshire based on feedback from her national colleagues, hit back at Cllr Boad's suggestions.

"I am not convinced of that," she said.

"We don't know what the polls might be telling us 18 months from now, if anything the polls are heading more in our favour at the moment which could make May a good time to be doing this.

"I don't think any poll truly tells anyone what results a year from now will look like. It is a surprising statement from someone who is so politically experienced when a day, a week or a month is a long time in politics, let alone a year and a half."

Other parties expressed frustration with Green group leader Cllr Jonathan Chilvers calling the uncertainty "disrespectful to those who are trying to work out what they want to do with their lives".

"Being a councillor is a part-voluntary post," he said.

"They are trying to work out how to best serve their communities and the government keeps moving the goalposts."

Restore Britain leader Cllr Luke Cooper felt it would create "more uncertainty" but added: "We are always trying to be prepared for by-elections and elections. I don't think there will be too much of an impact for us, you are still pretty much planning for the same thing."

Conservative leader Cllr Adrian Warwick described an "utter chaotic mess" and said his group would "plan for both options", adding: "It's clear the government rushed into this without properly considering feedback from local authorities."