2026 mayoral elections to be postponed for two years, government confirms

Four inaugural mayoral elections that had been due to take place next May have been postponed until 2028, according to reports.

Elections for new mayors in Essex, Hampshire and the Solent, Sussex and Brighton, and Norfolk and Suffolk had been due to take place alongside devolved elections in Wales and Scotland next year.

However, communities and local government secretary Steve Reed confirmed to MPs that the four mayoral contests will be delayed, on the grounds that the councils need more time to complete reorganisation.

The elections had initially been due to take place in May this year, but were delayed by then-communities secretary Angela Rayner in order to convert the regions into combined authorities.

Had the elections gone ahead next year, it is likely all four would have been the last mayoral elections fought using the first-past-the-post system, with the government announcing plans to revert back to the supplementary vote system for mayoral elections from 2027.

Reed confirmed that once the mayors are in post, the four authorities, along with Cumbria and Cheshire and Warrington, will share £200 million in investment for 30 years.

He said: “Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria have previously requested a delay to their inaugural elections to May 2027, to align with the majority of planned local elections, which could help voter turnout and enable further local savings. These areas have both successfully established unitary authorities.

“The government is also minded to hold the inaugural mayoral elections for Sussex and Brighton, Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk and Greater Essex in May 2028, with areas completing the local government reorganisation process before mayors take office.

“This is because devolution is strongest when it is built on strong foundations, therefore moving forward we will ensure strong unitary authorities are in place before areas taking on mayoral devolution.”

Labour had selected candidates for all four mayoral contests; it is unknown whether nominations will be reopened closer to polling day in 2028.

Caroline Baxter, Labour’s candidate for mayor of Sussex and Brighton, said she was “disappointed” by the delay but welcomed the government’s prioritisation of local government reform.

“Our newly created unitary authorities will be transformational for our communities and I am looking forward to working with them.

“I welcome the news that Sussex and Brighton will be getting our share of nearly £6bn in devolution funding. That is £38m a year to deliver much needed skills programmes and transform our high streets with regeneration projects that fully back our local businesses.

“The work for Sussex continues. I will keep engaging with communities across the region and I am proud to remain Labour’s candidate for the 2028 mayoral contest, ready to partner with our newly established local councils to deliver for residents from coast to countryside.”

The elections will now take place alongside mayoral elections in London, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, South Yorkshire, the West Midlands and West Yorkshire, amongst others.

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