Hampshire County Council elections are expected to go ahead in May 2026 after the Government said the “starting point” is that elections “must go ahead” unless there is “strong justification otherwise”.

County councillor Andy Tree said the response from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government indicates the delayed Hampshire elections will proceed as scheduled next year.

The May 2025 county elections were postponed after the Conservative administration at Hampshire County Council requested a delay to May 2026 as part of the fast-track devolution process, a move approved by the Labour Secretary of State. The last county election was held in 2021.

Cllr Tree said Hampshire County Council is not expected to be abolished until April 2028 and warned that cancelling the 2026 election would significantly extend councillors’ terms.

“It is critical for democracy that residents are respected and allowed to vote for a county councillor, especially having had it cancelled in 2025,” said Cllr Tree, who is also deputy leader of East Hampshire District Council and leader of Whitehill Town Council.

In a letter sent to Housing Secretary Steve Reed, he wrote: “The May 2025 Hampshire County Council elections were cancelled after the Conservative administration at Hampshire County Council requested postponement to May 2026 and the Labour Secretary of State granted it.”

“I appreciate the government expected a council wanting to benefit from being on the devolution fast track to request the postponement as part of this process. Nevertheless, democracy is sacred and I voted AGAINST postponing the May 2025 local elections, when given that opportunity at a full council meeting on 9th Jan 2025.”

“I do not believe that acceptance for fast track devolution should have been conditional on postponing the election.”

Cllr Tree said he had been concerned by speculation that the postponed 2026 election could also be cancelled.

“I have seen and heard rumours for some time that the government could cancel the already postponed May 2025 Hampshire County Council elections, so they do not happen in May 2026,” he said.

“I was concerned by the Prime Minister’s answer at Prime Minister’s questions on October 22, where he did not clearly state in reply to the MP for Woking that any of the scheduled local elections for May 2026 would go ahead.

“It would be different if local government reorganisation was about to happen in the next year-or-so and the election could be argued to waste money on council about to be abolished.”

“However, I understand Hampshire County Council is expected to exist until April 2028, which would be increasing councillor terms of office from 4 years to almost 7, should the election be cancelled.”

Cllr Tree also pointed to the likelihood that the first-ever Hampshire and Solent mayoral election could take place on the same day.

“It is frankly unacceptable to even contemplate not having the May 2026 election, noting the potentially decreased costs of holding it where I understand the first ever mayoral election for Hampshire & Solent would also be taking place at the same time,” he said.

He added that he would only ever want to hold office through an election.

“Please let me be clear, I have no agenda,” he said. “I am the incumbent county councillor and so if the election is cancelled, I would continue to hold my seat. However, democracy is sacred and my view is that the election must go ahead.”

“I would only ever want to be a councillor because people have faith in me to elect/re-elect me and not because the election is cancelled.”

Cllr Tree won the Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford seat for the first time in 2021 and said he would defend it if the election goes ahead.

“The Whitehill & Bordon Community Party that I lead contests only the Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford seat,” he said.

“I hope my track record of relentless work in Whitehill, Bordon and Lindford and achieving results locally would result in me being re-elected, should I defend our seat. However, I do not take this for granted and the electorate must have the opportunity to hear from me and any other candidates and vote however they choose.”

“Voters across the rest of Hampshire also deserve the right to elect the councillors/party of their choice.”

The Government response stated that the “starting point” for all elections is that they “must go ahead” unless there is “strong justification otherwise”.

The elections are taking place against the backdrop of planned local government reorganisation in Hampshire, which is expected to see existing councils replaced by new unitary authorities from 2028.