Conservative mayoral candidate slams government over delayed Hampshire election
Donna Jones has accused the government of holding back the region
Mayoral candidate Donna Jones has accused the Labour government of holding back Hampshire and the Isle of Wight after they rejected a formal request to bring forward the first Hampshire and the Solent mayoral election to May 2027.
The Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority mayoral election was originally scheduled for May 2026 but has now been postponed to 2028.
Donna Jones, who is currently the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and is the Conservative mayoral candidate, said: “This decision is an absolute disgrace. Hampshire and the Solent is being held back by a Labour government that is prioritising the North of England while taking the South for granted.
“We are losing valuable investment opportunities, being denied the strong regional leadership we desperately need, and watching other parts of the country move ahead while Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are left behind.
“We are being starved of the investment and opportunities enjoyed by regions in the North with established Labour mayors. It is becoming increasingly clear that this government is more interested in supporting its political heartlands than delivering a fair deal for communities across the whole country.
“Hampshire and the Solent is one of Britain’s most important economic regions. We have internationally significant ports, world-leading maritime industries, defence capabilities, advanced manufacturing, tourism and thousands of ambitious businesses ready to invest and grow. Yet we are being denied the political leadership and full powers needed to unlock our potential.
“Every month of delay is another month of missed opportunity for investment in our roads, railways, housing, infrastructure, skills and jobs. It is businesses, families and young people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who will ultimately pay the price.
“The Labour government talks endlessly about economic growth, yet its actions are holding back one of the country’s most economically important regions. You cannot deliver growth by keeping regions waiting for the powers and leadership they need to succeed.”
The newly established Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority has already begun operating, and the government has agreed to provide a proportion of the region’s investment fund before the first mayoral election, but certain mayoral powers and funding arrangements remain unavailable until a mayor takes office.
Donna Jones said: “The North has benefited from powerful mayors who can champion their regions, negotiate directly with ministers and attract significant investment. I welcome investment in the North, but why should Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have to wait?
“We contribute enormously to Britain’s economy. Our maritime and defence industries are nationally significant, our ports are gateways for international trade, and our businesses have huge potential to generate jobs and prosperity. We deserve a government that recognises that contribution and backs our ambitions.
“The people of Hampshire and the Solent should not be treated as second-class citizens simply because of where they live or how they vote.
“I am calling on the government to urgently reconsider this decision, bring forward the mayoral election and guarantee that our region will not lose out on funding or investment because of its own unnecessary delays. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight deserve better.”