Local and mayoral elections that were scheduled for May 6 are likely to be delayed because of the coronavirus.
Mayors and town hall leaders were approached by civil servants last week to discuss whether it would be too dangerous to proceed with the biggest test of political support in this parliament, with almost 40 million people entitled to vote.
A unit in the cabinet office is working on contingency plans to hold the vote in June, July or September instead. The Tory party co-chairwoman, Amanda Milling, also spoke to Conservative candidates in key contests last week and signalled that a delay was likely.
No 10 favours a delay of one month. If polls are delayed until the autumn, Tory candidates want them held in October,