From Polls to Pause: Everything You Need To Know About Elections In The East This May

April 24, 2025

Yes, it's time for your annual local election article from DevComms and this year things are a little different.

It may have bypassed you (pun intended, and if only we could get them built!) but much of the east of England has been selected for the Government’s ‘fast-track’ devolution programme. Norfolk and Suffolk have joined forces to become a new devolved mayoral authority as have Greater Essex. This will see the abolition of the county authorities and the creation of new, large unitary authorities. To accommodate these far-reaching changes, county and local elections have been paused and new mayoral elections will take place in 2026 followed by unitary elections expected to take place the following year.

There are various consultations taking place on the new area structures and be warned; it is taking lots of local government resource to plan and re-organise for the coming few years so expect confusion for some time yet. However long-term, the Government believes the new structures will enable strategic planning and growth in a more effective way.

It often escapes notice that the east does already have a combined mayoral authority; The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. The incumbent Labour Mayor Nik Johnson is not seeking re-election, and the three main parties have all polled well in the previous elections. The Conservatives Paul Bristow, former Peterborough MP who lost the 2024 election is running to become Mayor, polling closely as favourite alongside Labour’s Anna Smith, currently Deputy Mayor and former Leader of Cambridge City Council. The Liberal Democrats, Greens and Reform may be disadvantaged by the new voting system in this election-its first-past-the-post in contrast previous elections. Housing delivery is a key issue in the election with most candidates supporting the need for new homes with a strong sustainable emphasis.

Over at Cambridgeshire County Hall, members have not quite escaped the executioner’s block. Elections are taking place at the joint administration led (Lib Dem, Lab and Ind) led authority, but the writing is on the wall as the Government is expecting all county council areas to plan for their demise. The Lib Dems, Reform and Greens will be hoping to pick off some of the sitting Labour and Conservative members in line with national polling.

Similarly facing the chop is Hertfordshire Country Council but elections are taking place in the interim. The Conservatives lead the council and have done since 1999 but the Liberal Democrats have been making inroads into that majority and are expecting gains, as are Labour. There are a large number of independent candidates standing and it is also possible that the Greens and Reform could pick up seats. Buses and roads are a major election issue for the authority.

Unlike all the other counties, Bedfordshire has been fully unitary since 2009. There are no elections in 2025 but look out for what this small county may do on their restructure as the current councils are too small and a mayoral bid will need to see corporation outside of the east with support from Milton Keynes or Northants.

Complicated enough? Well, if you are gagging for more information on upcoming devolution changes and what these might mean for your business, project or growth book a CPD with me at j.uko@devcomms.co.uk