January 25th, 2026



Green Party councillors have accused the Conservative leaders of East Sussex County Council of killing off democracy to save their political skins twice in a year.

Elections for the county council, due to be held in May, have now been cancelled for a second time after East Sussex’s Conservative council leader again asked the government to call off the elections. Labour minister Steve Reed has also confirmed that elections in East Sussex will now not be held until 2027.

These elections were originally due to be held in May 2025, but were put off after Conservative council leader Keith Glazier wrote to the government asking for a postponement to ‘give stability’ while local authorities are reorganised.

They were then slated to happen in May this year, but the Conservatives again asked the government to delay them.

Green Party East Sussex County Councillor for Ringmer and Lewes Bridge, Johnny Denis, (pictured), said: “These elections have already been cancelled once, and I’m shocked to hear that this Labour government has allowed East Sussex to postpone this second county council election.

“For this year's elections in May to now be cancelled, following last year’s postponement, the people of East Sussex will be furious. They should decide who steers this process and the direction of our local democracy.

“The Conservative council, and the Labour government, are between them denying democracy to the people of East Sussex.

"East Sussex County Council is run by a Conservative group with no majority and with no elections until 2027 at the earliest. It has no mandate to lead on the biggest shake up of local government for a generation."