Surrey & Hants County Elections Called Off

Local elections will not go ahead in Surrey & Hampshire this May.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Local Government Minister Angela Rayner, announced that both counties are joining the new devolution programme, which will see borough councils abolished and the county reorganised under Unitary Authorities.

Surrey & Hampshire County Councils wrote to the Government in January requesting to join the Labour Government’s devolution scheme, and therefore to call off the elections.

Surrey residents will now vote in 2026 for their ‘shadow authority members’. These new councillors will sit on the Unitary Authorities once they have been fully set-up.

The Government and both councils agree that devolution will increase powers and funding for local authorities. This move also sets both counties on track to having regional mayors, with power over public transport, crime, investment, and infrastructure.

Angela Rayner argued postponing elections will avoid wasting taxpayer money electing councillors who will be out of a job in a year.

Taking aim at Liberal Democrats, who are set to lose their power base in the form of Surrey’s borough councils, Rayner said: “any party calling for these elections to go ahead must explain how this waste would be justifi[ed].”

You can read more about the English Devolution white paper here.