DONNA Jones has expressed serious concern after reports that local elections could be delayed for a second year.
This comes following reports in The Times which says that County Council leaders across the UK have called for a further postponement of County Council elections, currently scheduled for May 2026.
However, the Leader of Hampshire County Council has condemned the idea and stated he does not support the position.
Ms Jones, who is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, as well as the Conservative candidate for Mayor of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, called another delay to local elections “completely unacceptable”.
She said: "A second delay to local elections would be completely unacceptable. Residents have a right to choose who represents them, that choice should not be postponed by Ministers. Last year’s delay was to enable devolution to proceed, but that process is now complete. The mayoral election will take place in May 2026 and is not in question. But local elections across the country are in jeopardy."
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"The cost of the local elections is being cited as the reason to delay. The question is, what value do you put on democracy? The message this sends and the worrying trend of taking away people’s voice is wholly unacceptable. The Isle of Wight isn’t due to be affected by local government reorganisation, so any further delay there would be absolutely unnecessary. Elections must go ahead as planned in 2026."
Donna also welcomed confirmation from the Leader of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Nick Adams-King, that he has not and will not ask for a postponement.
In February 2025, the Government postponed local elections in nine areas that are part of the Devolution Priority Programme, including Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The decision was enacted through secondary legislation laid before Parliament on February 11 by Jim McMahon MP, then Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution. The order was made as a negative statutory instrument, meaning it was not subject to a parliamentary vote.
It is understood that any further delay to local elections would require primary legislation, meaning a new Bill would need to be introduced and approved by both Houses of Parliament.
The new Mayor of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will be elected in May 2026, with devolved powers over areas such as transport, housing, skills, regeneration, environment, and public safety. The Mayor will be held to account by a Combined Authority made up of representatives from the constituent upper-tier local authorities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
