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The 2026 Greater Essex mayoral election is due to be held on 7 May 2026 [1] to elect the inaugural mayor of Greater Essex, on the same day as other local elections across the country.
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The 2026 Greater Essex mayoral election is due to be held on 7 May 2026 [1] to elect the inaugural mayor of Greater Essex, on the same day as other local elections across the country.
Since 1998, the ceremonial county of Essex has been split between three principal local authorities, Essex County Council and the independent unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council, which are together known as Greater Essex for administrative purposes. [a] Since 1999, the UK Government has devolved powers to local parliaments, assemblies, authorities and mayors in the nations and regions of the UK. [4] [5] The three councils of Essex negotiated the creation of a devolved combined county authority for Essex under Rishi Sunak's Conservative government, however these negotiations fell through after an intervention by anti-devolution Conservative Essex MPs in February 2024. [6] [7]
In its manifesto for the 2024 general election, the victorious Labour Party under Keir Starmer pledged to introduce mayoral combined authorities to more areas of England. [8] After the election, Starmer's new government resumed negotiations on devolution in Essex and the creation of a Greater Essex Combined County Authority which would be led by a directly elected mayor. [9] [10] In February 2025, the government accepted Greater Essex onto its devolution priority programme for England alongside five other areas. [11] In July 2025, the government confirmed the Greater Essex Combined County Authority would be established in early 2026, with the inaugural mayoral election scheduled for 7 May 2026. [12] [13] This will be on the same day as other local and mayoral elections in the United Kingdom. [10]
The election covers the entire ceremonial county of Essex. [1] It is expected to be a two-horse race between the Conservative Party, which has traditionally dominated Essex, and the right-wing populist party Reform UK, which has gained support in the county since 2021 at their expense. [12] [14] Both parties have a major support base in the county, with party leaders Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage both representing Essex constituencies. [12] Essex is also noted for its tradition of strong independent politicians in its local politics. These factors may make it difficult to predict the outcome of the election. [10]
The Conservative Party shortlisted three candidates in July 2025, Louise McKinlay, the deputy leader of Essex County Council, Roger Hirst, the police, fire and crime commissioner for Essex, and Thurrock businessman James Sinclair. [15] [16] The candidates were put to a membership vote in August 2025, with McKinlay winning selection as the party's candidate. [15] [1] Her campaign slogan is "Putting Essex First". [12]
The Liberal Democrats opened nominations in July 2025. [1] In October 2025, the Liberal Democrats announced the selection of James Allen, a former justice of the peace, as its candidate. [17]
The Labour Party opened and closed nominations for its candidate in August 2025. [18] In October 2025, Labour announced that it had selected Adam Fox, the former deputy leader of Colchester City Council and its unsuccessful candidate in the 2024 Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election, after a hustings process with local party members. [19] [20]
In July 2025, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told the BBC that its mayoral candidate will be from Essex. [1] Russell Quirk, a TalkTV presenter and former Conservative councillor on Brentwood Borough Council, declared his intention to stand as Reform's candidate in September 2025. [21]
The Green Party opened nominations in July 2025. [1] In October 2025, the party announced that it had selected Natasha Osben, its candidate for the constituency of Clacton in the 2024 general election, which was won by Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage. [22]
The Southend Confelicity Party, a localist party in Southend, announced its leader James Miller as its candidate in March 2025, who is campaigning on an anti-devolution platform. [23] He was later followed by his father, Southend businessman and Adventure Island owner Philip Miller, who announced his candidacy as an independent on 8 September 2025, campaigning on a platform of blocking planned new town developments on the green belt and pursuing tougher action on crime. [24] Despite their competing candidacies, Philip has declared his intention to vote for James. [25]
