Delays, postponements and elections
– after a few days of major changes to the political
calendar, when can voters in Hampshire expect to head to…
Across the UK, a range of elections
have been scheduled for May 2026.
These include votes for 18 unitary
authorities, six county councils, 50 district councils and
six directly elected mayors in England.
However, the Labour government
led by Sir Keir Starmer has made a late decision to postpone
several mayoral elections, including in Hampshire, to 2028.
Local Government Secretary Steve
Reed said the move is intended to give devolved areas a
“strong foundation” and to make sure “strong unitary
structures are in place before areas take on mayoral
devolution.”
Importantly, this delay does not
affect the rest of the elections already scheduled for May
2026.
Local elections 2025
Local elections expected in May
2025 were postponed.
At the time, the Government said
the delay was “essential” to deliver the wider devolution
programme, noting that creating new Combined County
Authorities, organising first-time mayoral elections and
restructuring local government were all happening on a tight
timetable.
More recently, The Times reported
that county council leaders across the UK called for a
further postponement of county council elections.
However, the Leader of Hampshire
County Council, Nick Adams-King, condemned the idea and
made it clear that he did not support the position.
Cllr Adams-King told the Local
Democracy Reporting Service that his position is
“straightforward”.
“I have not, and will not, ask for
an election postponement.
“Ultimately, this is a decision for
the Government. Last year’s delay was to enable devolution,
which is now substantially complete.
“It was the Labour Government that
subsequently imposed Local Government Reorganisation, and it
is for this reason they are now considering a further delay.
“While any new council will only
sit for two years, I believe elections should still proceed.
“Ultimately this is a decision for
the Labour Government, it is their project, their timeline,
and their decision as to whether they can deliver what they
want with or without elections.”
May 2026 elections
Despite the changes to devolution,
May 2026 remains a key date for our region. Elections here
are still going ahead as planned.
That includes Hampshire County
Council elections, as well as council elections in
Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.
Elections in Fareham,
Gosport, Basingstoke and Deane, Eastleigh,
Hart, Havant, Rushmoor and Winchester will
also take place as scheduled.
More details about polling stations
and local arrangements will be released as the date gets
closer.
The Hampshire Chronicle 6th December
