Why it matters: The letter follows public backlash in December after the government announced it was considering further delays to local elections for counties going through reorganisation, including Suffolk.
The details: In his letter dated 7 January 2026, Mr Spencer told the Prime Minister that the idea of delaying local elections again, "at relatively short notice, is not acceptable".
He said that further delays would go against assurances made by all parties in 2024 and 2025, and warned that "the notion that they are now being reconsidered makes a mockery of the principle that the public should trust the word of people in office and politicians."
Mr Spencer, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, also argued that technical excuses to delay elections could set a dangerous precedent.
"It would set a precedent that could be used by a future Prime Minister or Government to delay parliamentary elections. That would be a dire situation for this country to find itself in," he wrote.
What they're saying: Mr Spencer said: "Elections are a critical feature of our political identity and culture. Any excuse that elections can only be justified if the cost is right and the administrative burden is not too great, is not acceptable to the British people."
"Whatever reasonable and logical justification has been worked up within either the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government or the Cabinet Office for further delaying local elections, can I ask that you intervene and reassure the country that local county elections will go ahead in 2026."
By the numbers: Mr Spencer hosted a petition on his website at the end of last year, which received 587 signatories in just over four weeks.
He told the Prime Minister: "That is a considerable groundswell of public support in Suffolk. It demonstrates that the public are not sympathetic to the 'Westminster' view that elections can and should be delayed. It demonstrates that elections are sacrosanct, irrespective of the context in which they are being held."
For context: County council elections were initially due to take place in May 2025, but were postponed by the government because Suffolk and Norfolk were placed on a fast-track devolution programme. If delayed again, it would be the second time in succession that elections were delayed.
In December 2025, local government minister Alison McGovern asked 63 councils going through reorganisation to set out their views on potentially postponing their local elections, with areas having until Thursday, 15 January, to make their representations.
Opposition councillors have raised concerns that the Conservative-led county council may use council reorganisation as an excuse to avoid facing Suffolk voters in May 2026.
What's next: Suffolk County Council has called an extraordinary council and cabinet meeting on Monday, 12 January, to discuss a potential election postponement ahead of the government's 15 January deadline.
It is understood that neither Norfolk nor Essex councils are holding similar meetings, and will not request any postponement.
The bottom line: The decision on whether to pursue a delay now rests with individual councils, who must make their representations to the government by 15 January.
