India, Feb. 17 -- The UK government, in a dramatic U-turn, said on Monday that it would no longer postpone local elections for millions of voters across England.

The decision by embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer's administration has been claimed as a win by hard-right leader Nigel Farage.

The reversal of the decision to postpone the May 7 local elections in 30 districts came days before a court challenge and follows an intense backlash to the delay, which was formally announced last month.

Ministers had insisted the postponement was necessary to help deliver a wide-ranging local government reorganisation. But the UK government said on Monday that it was reversing its decision "in the light of recent legal advice".

"The government ...