Hampshire and IOW leaders ask government to fast-track Hampshire mayoral election

The Government has received a formal request to bring forward the region’s first mayoral election from May 2028 to May 2027.

Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority (HSCCA) has written to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) requesting that ministers reconsider the election timetable.

Cllr Nick Adams-King, HSCCA chairman, said: “Since the combined authority was established, the board has been working at pace to lay strong foundations for devolution and to begin delivering the benefits of greater local decision-making.

“With the government now proposing a significantly wider range of powers and financial freedoms for mayoral authorities, it is increasingly important that Hampshire and the Solent has a directly elected mayor with a clear democratic mandate.”

Cllr Adams-King said the authority, which has a £1.3 billion devolution deal over the next 30 years, was ready to work with government to make a May 2027 election possible.

He added: “Holding the election in 2027 would give residents an earlier say in who leads our region and ensure Hampshire and the Solent has the strongest possible voice as new powers and funding arrangements are developed.

“This is a constructive and practical request.”

A HSCCA spokeswoman said the May 2028 mayoral election date was originally based on council mergers through local government reorganisation (LGR) taking place first.

However, the LGR timetable changed earlier this month when communities secretary Angela Rayner withdrew the government’s approval decision for Hampshire’s restructure after receiving fresh legal advice.

The government said council elections will go ahead in May 2027 on current boundaries.

The HSCCA spokeswoman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “That changes the context. If LGR is no longer happening on the original timetable, HSCCA believes there is a clear case for holding the mayoral election in May 2027 instead.

“This would give the region elected leadership, full devolution powers and related funding sooner, while keeping momentum behind devolution and aligning with other local elections already due to take place in 2027.”

Mayoral candidates for the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have previously backed bringing the election forward.

A senior Reform UK councillor has also supported the proposal in the absence of a declared candidate for the party following the suspension of Chris Parry due to posts on social media.

Holding a standalone mayoral election in 2028 is estimated to cost between £6 million and £7 million.

On the election request from HSCCA, an MHCLG spokesperson said: “We are always willing to speak to areas in the devolution priority programme who wish to progress devolution sooner and we will keep this suggestion under consideration.”

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