The councils cancelling local elections in May have seen the sharpest rises in illegal migration, analysis has revealed.

The 12 authorities to call off the ballots have seen a 344% increase in the number of asylum seekers being housed in their counties.

This compares to a much smaller increase of 184% across all of England, and 177% across the entire UK.

Reform UK, which had been hoping to make huge gains in the local elections, seized on the findings, accusing councils of “arrogant cowardice”.

Rupert Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth said: “Local people do not want illegal migrants roaming their streets.

“It’s dangerous, particularly for women. Is it any surprise that the local politicians who forced this on the population are running from elections? It’s cowardice. Arrogant cowardice.

“We need a zero-tolerance approach. Nobody here illegally stays, nobody who comes illegally stays. Detain, and deport – with no questions asked. This is what local voters want.”

The analysis, by the Centre for Migration Control, revealed Devon, East Sussex Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey Warwickshire, West Sussex and Worcestershire have all seen the number of illegal migrants being housed in their areas rocket over the past three years.

In Essex, the number of asylum seekers receiving support has increased from 307 in December 2021 to 2,186 last year – a staggering 712% increase.

In West Sussex, the number receiving taxpayer support has soared from 311 to 1,432, or 460%.

Warwickshire has also seen a 401% increase and Norfolk 307%.

The councils have agreed to ask to be part of the government’s priority programme for devolution, which would mean they could ask to put off county elections for a year.

Robert Bates, Research Director at the Centre for Migration Control said: “Immigration is the most important issue for voters across the country.

“It is unconscionable that politicians should look to avoid the justifiable wrath that they are set to face in May’s elections and are hiding behind obscure rule-changes to avoid accountability.

“Voters in these areas have been unable to avoid the consequences of the disastrous decisions taken by both the Conservative and Labour governments.

“Over the last four years they have seen large numbers of undocumented males housed in their towns and undermining their quality of life – they deserve a chance to pass judgment on the chronic failures of politicians at both a national and local level.”

A spokesperson for Essex County Council said: “Any allegation of a link between asylum numbers and a request to postpone elections is complete and utter nonsense.”

A West Sussex County Council spokesperson said: “The decision to defer local elections in West Sussex due in May this year is one the government will make.

“We have requested this as part of our bid to join the Devolution Priority Programme because we do not believe that we would otherwise be able to meet the timetable required of us by the government.

“One of the reasons is that there appears insufficient time to run the public consultation on devolution plans ahead of the pre-election period.

“Should the government decide to postpone local elections in 2025, Mayoral elections would still take place in 2026, unlocking significant benefits for our region sooner rather than later.

“Holding local elections a year earlier will come at a cost, raising the question whether this represents good use of public money, and will stall the journey to a Mayoral Combined Authority with the additional local powers it would bring that are much needed within the region.”