Government to delay mayoral elections in Sussex

The government is preparing to delay the first elections for new regional mayor in Sussex and Brighton, pushing the planned 2026 contests back to 2028.

Ministers are expected to say the areas, which also include Greater Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Hampshire and the Solent, need additional time to complete local government reorganisation before voters go to the polls.

Opposition parties criticised the move, arguing the elections should proceed as scheduled. Senior figures from Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives all accused the government of undermining democracy, with several insisting that delaying the votes contradicts earlier commitments to rapid devolution. The posts were announced in February as part of an expansion of the devolution priority programme, promising increased powers for local authorities.

Two further mayoral elections previously expected in 2026, for Cumbria and the forthcoming Cheshire and Warrington authority, have also been postponed. The government said the Cumbria delay was aimed at cutting costs, while the Cheshire and Warrington change followed concerns raised by local leaders.