2028 Hampshire and the Solent mayoral election
4 May 2028
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The 2028 Hampshire and the Solent mayoral election is due to be held on 4 May 2028[1], postponed from an originally scheduled date of 7 May 2026, to elect the first mayor of Hampshire and the Solent.
Background
The Isle of Wight was historically part of Hampshire. It became an administrative county in 1890, and a ceremonial county in 1974 when it gained its own Lord Lieutenant.
Previous plans in Hampshire have included a Solent Combined Authority in South Hampshire (potentially alongside the Isle of Wight) and a "Heart of Hampshire" deal including the remainder of the county. However, these plans were rejected in the south due to objections from Isle of Wight Council, and in the north of the county due to disagreements and the likelihood of the constituent authorities being reorganised.[2][3][4][5]
In February 2025, the government announced that six areas had been selected to join the Devolution Priority Programme, which would include the establishment of mayoral combined authorities in each area and local government reorganisation, if necessary, to remove two-tier local government.[6] In these areas, the councils involved were asked to submit final proposals for reorganisation at the end of September 2025. Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth and Southampton city councils, and the cabinet of the Isle of Wight Council voted in favour of bringing forward the proposal. [7][8][9][10][11] Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council considered joining Hampshire and the Solent, but ultimately voted in favour of joining Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire in the Heart of Wessex proposal.[12][13][2]
The formation of a mayoral combined authority for Hampshire and the Solent was agreed by the UK government in February 2025.[14][15][16] The inaugural election was initially due to be held in May 2026, however in December 2025 the election, alongside three other new mayoral combined authorities, was delayed until 2028. [17][18]
Candidates
The Conservative, Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat, and Reform UK parties have all announced candidates. [19]
Conservative Party
Donna Jones was selected in August 2025 in what was described as a "competitive process".[20][21]
| Name | Home Town | Experience | Announcement | Outcome of Campaign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donna Jones | Portsmouth | Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Former Leader of Portsmouth City Council | March 2025[22] | Selected August 2025[20][21] |
| Ranil Jayawardena | Bramley | Former Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire, Former Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | July 2025[23] | Not selected |
Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales announced that Anna Collar, who had previously stood unsuccesfutlly as the Green Candidate for New Forest West in the 2024 General Election, had been selected unopposed on 1st October 2025. [24]
Labour Party
Labour announced Lorna Fielker, former Leader of Southampton City Council as their candidate on November 10th. [19]
| Name | Home Town | Experience | Announcement | Outcome of Campaign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorna Fielker | Southampton | Former Leader of Southampton City Council | May 2025[25] |
Selected November 2025[26] |
Liberal Democrats
Martin Tod was selected in September 2025 for the Liberal Democrats. [19]
| Name | Home Town | Experience | Announcement | Outcome of Campaign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Dowling | Portsmouth | Former Councillor, Portsmouth City Council, Currently Deputy-Ceo, Unloc | July 2025[27] | Not selected |
| Jack Davies | New Forest | Councillor, New Forest District Council | May 2025[28] | Not selected |
| Martin Tod | Winchester | Leader of Winchester City Council | July 2025[29] | Selected September 2025 |
Reform UK
Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry was announced as the Reform UK Candidate in December 2025. [30]
Independent candidates
Several independent politicians in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight criticised the £5,000 deposit required for standing, including Paul Harvey of the Basingstoke and Deane Independents, and Kevin D'Cruze who stood as an independent parliamentary candidate in Winchester in 2024. Most Hampshire councils have independent councillors. [31]
References
- ^ Maddox, David (3 December 2025). "Labour expected to postpone mayoral elections by two years amid continued Reform poll lead". The Independent.
- ^ a b "Devolution and local government reorganisation". www.basingstoke.gov.uk. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
- ^ "Unity call as devolution 'dead in the water'". Alton Herald. Archived from the original on 6 March 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ "New Solent authority deal 'scrapped'". BBC News. October 5, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ "New Solent authority deal 'almost dead'". BBC News. January 26, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ "Devolution revolution: six areas to elect Mayors for first time". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ^ "Devolution: What is going to happen where I live?". BBC News. January 12, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "Hampshire and The Solent Councils submit joint devolution request to Government". www.southampton.gov.uk. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ Stephen (January 10, 2025). "Hampshire and The Solent Councils submit joint devolution request to government". Portsmouth City Council. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "Hampshire County Council agrees to progress bid for devolution fast-track". www.hants.gov.uk. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ Webb, Caitlin (January 2, 2025). "Hampshire & Solent launches bid for devolution priority programme". Local Government Chronicle (LGC). Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "BCP joining regional devolution bid 'makes complete sense'". Bournemouth Echo. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "Devolution deal: BCP Council opts to join Heart of Wessex". BBC News. January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
- ^ "Cheshire and Cumbria get devolution nod". 5 February 2025.
- ^ "'A momentous day': Major update on new powers and mayor for region". 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Devolution revolution: six areas to elect Mayors for first time". Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
- ^ "New mayoral elections to be delayed in four areas of England". BBC News. 2025-12-04. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ^ "Hampshire and Solent mayoral hopefuls slam election delay". BBC News. 2025-12-04. Retrieved 2025-12-06.
- ^ a b c "Martin Tod, Winchester city council leader, to stand for regional mayor". BBC News. 2025-09-11. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
- ^ a b "Donna Jones named as Conservative party candidate for mayor of Hampshire". The News. 2025-08-03. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
- ^ a b "Donna Jones selected as Conservative candidate for new Hampshire mayor". Hampshire Chronicle. 2025-08-02. Retrieved 2025-08-03.
- ^ Hudson, Emily (13 March 2025). "Police and crime commissioner to run for mayor". BBC. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
- ^ "Mayor Paul Bristow backs Ranil for Hampshire".
- ^ "Anna Collar Announced as Green Party Mayoral Candidate for Hampshire and Solent". Facebook. 1 October 2025.
- ^ Lewis, Jason (23 May 2025). "Southampton City Council leader launches bid to become Hampshire mayor". Dailty Echo. Daily Echo.
- ^ "Labour candidate for Hampshire and Solent mayor announced". BBC News. 10 November 2025.
- ^ Dowling, Ben. bendowling.org.uk. Ben Dowling https://www.bendowling.org.uk.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Davies, Jack. Facebook. Jack Davies https://www.facebook.com/jackdaviesld/photos/-announcement-im-putting-my-name-in-the-hat-to-be-the-liberal-democrat-candidate/1095133352433004/?_rdr.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Martin for More – Your choice for Mayor of Hampshire and the Solent". Retrieved 2025-07-14.
- ^ "Reform UK name Rear Admiral as Hampshire and Solent mayor candidate". BBC News. 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
- ^ "Deposit of £5,000 for Hampshire and Solent mayor criticised". BBC News. 2025-10-13. Retrieved 2025-10-14.