Jess Brown-Fuller MP says democracy is being denied to residents in Chichester after Government announces delays to mayoral election

MP for Chichester, Jess Brown-Fuller, has labelled the decision to delay the mayoral elections in Sussex “a disgrace”. The Government has confirmed that it will postpone the new mayoral elections until 2028, going back on its original commitment to hold them in 2026.

Elections are also being postponed in Greater Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Hampshire and the Solent. This also comes after, the Conservative led, West Sussex County Council requested that County Election due to be held in May 2026 be postponed an additional year.

Following the decision, Jess Brown-Fuller MP said:

“This is a disgrace. Democracy delayed is democracy denied.”

“Preparations for the elections next year were already well under way, with candidates being selected and potential policies discussed. To cancel them at this late hour, with local government reforms going ahead anyway, is completely nonsensical.”

“Just because there is a widespread rejection of the two main political parties does not mean they should dictate whether democracy takes place. I will keep pushing the Government to give millions of people their vote back next May.”

Jess outside WSCC