Sussex and Brighton mayoral elections postponed until 2028

The Labour government is set to delay the first-ever mayoral elections for Sussex and Brighton by two years, pushing the vote back from May 2026 to May 2028. The decision, expected to be announced by Communities Secretary Steve Reed later this week, will also affect new mayoralties in Essex, Hampshire and the Solent, and Norfolk and Suffolk.

Ministers argue the postponement is necessary to allow more time for complex local government reorganisation, which includes merging councils into combined authorities with devolved powers over transport, housing, and skills. However, the move has sparked fierce criticism across the political spectrum.

Opposition parties have accused Labour of “subverting democracy.” Reform UK, which has enjoyed strong gains in recent local elections, called the delay a “blatant attempt to stop big wins” for their party. “This is an act of a desperate government clinging to power by any means necessary,” said Zia Yusuf, Reform’s head of policy.

The Conservatives echoed the criticism, with Shadow Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverly branding the decision “a scandalous attempt to deny millions their vote.” Liberal Democrat spokesperson Zoe Franklin described the postponement as “a disgrace,” adding: “Democracy delayed is democracy denied.”

This marks the second delay for these elections. Originally scheduled for May 2025, they were pushed to 2026 to accommodate Labour’s devolution plans. The latest move means the contests will now coincide with other major mayoral elections in 2028, under a revised voting system that replaces first-past-the-post with a supplementary vote method.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has declined to comment ahead of the official statement.