This summer’s elections across Great Britain must go ahead as planned

Democracy is not some optional pastime to be indulged if people have nothing else to do, argues John Rentoul

Nicola Sturgeon must face the voters without further delay (AFP via Getty)

The plan is that every eligible elector in England, Scotland and Wales should have the chance to use their vote in May, many of them more than once. There are elections postponed from last year, for the London mayor and assembly, other councils and mayors across England, and the Scottish parliament; plus this year’s elections for the Welsh assembly, more English councils and mayors, and police and crime commissioners. (Northern Ireland has to wait until next year when it has assembly elections).

This is being billed as the biggest UK electoral test between general elections, but what should matter is not the number of elections held or the number of electors eligible to take part – what matters is the democratic principle. 

That’s why I am opposed to the idea of postponing the May elections because of coronavirus. I don’t think they should have been postponed last year. The US has just held a full set of elections – and run-off elections in Georgia – while observing social distancing rules.