To all Chichester Conservative Members
The Government announced that a Sussex Regional Mayor covering all West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton will be elected in May next year.
Additionally, a West Sussex unitary authority will be created by the merging of the district councils and the county council. Elections are slated to be held in 2027 to create a shadow authority ahead of the unitary authority coming into effect in 2028. This means that the Labour Government is cancelling this year’s county council elections.
Of course there are 1001 questions still to be answered. However, make no mistake: this decision is a choice by the Labour Government to a timetable set by them.
To give some context, below is the statement by our neighbouring MPs, Ali Griffiths and Andrew Griffith.
Kind regards to all
David Millican
Deputy Chairman Political, Chichester Conservatives
07412 635 228 // [email protected]
Ali Griffiths, MP for neighbouring Bognor & Littlehampton, wrote
Today, the Labour Party cancelled West Sussex’s County Council elections, which were due to take place in May.
This decision lies squarely in the hands of this Labour Government. They came up with the timetable. They announced seismic changes to local Government just before Christmas and expected County and City Council leaders to respond within barely three and a half weeks.
The Government made crystal clear that these changes would be imposed no matter what. City and County Council leaders across Sussex have had to make pragmatic decisions in the best interests of local people; as the Government were clear that they would impose the changes anyway.
Labour has no mandate for its choice and has shown a total disregard for local democracy. I will be reviewing the full details and working with colleagues across Sussex and in Parliament to hold this Government to account.
Andrew Griffith, MP for neighbouring Arundel & South Downs, wrote:
The Labour government have decided to cancel the 2025 West Sussex County Council elections and impose a Sussex-wide local authority on West and East Sussex with a new 'Mayor of Sussex'.
It is firmly my view that top-down imposed reforms – just like housing numbers - are completely wrong and lack democratic consent. Sussex needs a mayor like a fish needs a bicycle.
A new elected Sussex mayor will have to represent 1.5 million residents living in wildly different communities dominated by urban Brighton, Crawley and they will then serve under the Sussex banner.
It will starve many residents in rural West Sussex of the representation at local government which they deserve, and ultimately lead to a focus on the urban areas of the county such as Brighton and Crawley – whilst stealing the voices of residents at the ballot box this May.
