HAMPSHIRE's Conservative candidate for Mayor, Donna Jones, has responded to the delay of the election.
The news comes as Labour decided to delay the Hampshire Mayoral election, as they say the areas need more time to complete their local government reorganisation.
Responding to the news, Conservative Hampshire Mayoral Candidate and Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said: "The government’s decision to delay the Mayoral elections planned for 2026 is a disgrace and an affront to democracy. It is clear Labour are afraid to face the British public at the ballot box.
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"The claims made by the Labour government that mayoral election delays are due to concerns with local government reorganisation are disgraceful and lay bare this government’s incompetence. All Labour’s supposed grand plans for this country have collapsed under their own ineptitude, and it is the British people who are paying the price.
"Our county needs leadership on policing, transport and growth, but Labour are paralysed by their own chaos and endless political manoeuvring. Labour is afraid of the fight in Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight and the British people know it.
"Keir Starmer is sacrificing people’s democratic right to save his own skin."
The election for a new mayor will instead be contested in 2028.
The candidates who are standing in Hampshire are:
Conservative: Donna Jones, Hampshire's current police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and former Portsmouth City Council leader
Labour: Lorna Fielker, former leader of Southampton City Council
Lib Dems: Martin Rod, leader of Winchester City Council
Green: Anna Collar, an archaeologist living in Lyndhurst who works as an associate professor at the University of Southampton
Reform UK: Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry, known for his service in the Royal Navy
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