Sussex Mayoral Election 2028

Find out about more about the first mayoral election in Sussex.

Devolution

In February 2025, Sussex was confirmed as one of the six new areas that will be part of the Devolution Priority Programme. As part of this programme, the role of the Police & Crime Commissioners (PCC) in these areas will be abolished and the current functions of the PCC subsumed within a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) and delegated to a Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire & Crime [or an equivalent] to deliver.

The DRAFT English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill set out the processes for the abolition of PCCs and the appointment of a Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire & Crime in these six areas. The bill is currently progressing through the House of Lords and remains subject to change ahead of receiving Royal Assent in 2026.

The police and crime functions and powers of the Sussex PCC will transfer across to the MCCA, although the date for this transfer has yet to be confirmed. The existing resources of the Office of the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner (OSPCC) are also anticipated to transfer across to support an appointed Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire & Crime, as has been the position in other areas of the country where devolution has already taken place.

In December 2025, the Government announced that the mayoral election for Sussex and Brighton [alongside the elections for Hampshire and the Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk and Greater Essex] would be moved back by two years to May 2028. This is to allow these areas more time to establish the new unitary authorities required under local government reorganisation.

As such, the first mayoral election in Sussex will now be held on Thursday, 4 May 2028.

Katy Bourne, the current Sussex PCC, has been selected as the Conservative Party candidate for the mayoral election.

Between now and the election in May 2028, the OSPCC will continue to ensure that the PCC remains supported when discharging her statutory duties under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 through the adoption of a statement of intent to ensure the delivery of a ‘business as usual’ approach.

Further information about the other nominated candidates will be made available in due course once these individuals are known.

Local Government Reorganisation

Local government reorganisation is running in parallel to this activity which will see the establishment of new unitary authorities in Sussex [before the creation of an MCCA], together with the disbandment of district and borough councils.

The shape and size of the unitary authorities is still under development and has not yet been decided. Brighton & Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council have each prepared business cases for the new unitary authorities which are currently being formally considered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

A statutory consultation on proposals for local government reorganisation in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex has been launched and will remain open until 11 January 2026.

Further information about the new unitary authorities will be made available in due course once the shape and size of these areas is confirmed.