2026 East Sussex County Council election

2026 East Sussex County Council election

The 2026 East Sussex County Council election is due to take place in 2026 to elect members to East Sussex County Council in East Sussex, England. All 50 seats will be elected. This will be on the same day as other local elections.

Summary

Background

At the 2021 election, the Conservatives won an outright majority of seats.

Council composition

2026 East Sussex County Council election

After 2021 election	Before 2026 election
Party	Seats	Party	Seats
	Conservative	27		Conservative	22
	Liberal Democrats	11		Liberal Democrats	11
	Green	4		Green	6
	Labour	5		Labour	5
	Reform UK	0		Reform UK	2
	Independent	3		Independent	4

• April 2023: Rupert Simmons (Conservative) dies – by-election held July 2023 • June 2023: Barry Taylor (Conservative) dies – by-election held August 2023 • July 2023: Anne Cross (Green) gains by-election from Conservatives • August 2023: Brett Wright (Liberal Democrats) gains by-election from Conservatives • June 2024: Abul Azad (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent • May 2025: Samuel Adeniji (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent • September 2025: Peter Pragnell (Conservative) dies – by-election held November 2025 • November 2025: Aidan Fisher (Reform) gains by-election from Conservatives • January 2026: Samuel Adeniji (Independent) joins Reform • February 2026: Brett Wright (Liberal Democrats) joins Greens

Incumbents by authority

Eastbourne

<table><thead><tr><th>Ward</th><th>Incumbent councillor</th><th>Party</th><th>Re-standing</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Devonshire</td><td>Stephen Holt</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hampden Park</td><td>Colin Swansborough</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Langney</td><td>Alan Shuttleworth</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Meads</td><td>Brett Wright</td><td></td><td>Green</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>Old Town</td><td>John Ungar</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ratton</td><td>Colin Belsey</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>St Anthony's</td><td>David Tutt</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td>Not standing for re-election</td></tr><tr><td>Sovereign</td><td>Penny Di Cara</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Upperton</td><td>Pat Rodohan</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Hastings

<table><thead><tr><th>Ward</th><th>Incumbent councillor</th><th>Party</th><th>Re-standing</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Ashdown & Conquest</td><td>Aidan Fisher</td><td></td><td>Reform UK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Baird & Ore</td><td>Alan Hay</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Braybrooke & Castle</td><td>Godfrey Daniel</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Central St Leonards & Gensing</td><td>Trevor Webb</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hollington & Wishing Tree</td><td>Phil Scott</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Maze Hill & West St Leonards</td><td>Matthew Beaver</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Old Hastings & Tressell</td><td>Julia Hilton</td><td></td><td>Green</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>St Helens & Silverhill</td><td>Sorrell Marlow-Eastwood</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Lewes

<table><thead><tr><th>Ward</th><th>Incumbent councillor</th><th>Party</th><th>Re-standing</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Chailey</td><td>Matthew Milligan</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Lewes</td><td>Wendy Maples</td><td></td><td>Green</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Newhaven & Bishopstone</td><td>James MacCleary</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td>Not standing for re-election</td></tr><tr><td>Ouse Valley West & Downs</td><td>Sarah Osborne</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>Peacehaven</td><td>Chris Collier</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ringmer & Lewes Bridge</td><td>Johnny Denis</td><td></td><td>Green</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Seaford North</td><td>Sam Adeniji</td><td></td><td>Reform UK</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Seaford South</td><td>Carolyn Lambert</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>Telscombe</td><td>Christine Robinson</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Rother

<table><thead><tr><th>Ward</th><th>Incumbent councillor</th><th>Party</th><th>Re-standing</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Battle & Crowhurst</td><td>Kathryn Field</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>Bexhill East</td><td>Charles Clark</td><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bexhill North</td><td>Abul Azad</td><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bexhill South</td><td>Ian Hollidge</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bexhill West</td><td>Nuala Geary</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Brede Valley & Marsham</td><td>Carl Maynard</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Northern Rother</td><td>Paul Redstone</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Rother North West</td><td>Eleanor Kirby-Green</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Rye & Eastern Rother</td><td>Keith Glazier</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

Wealden

<table><thead><tr><th>Ward</th><th>Incumbent councillor</th><th>Party</th><th>Re-standing</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Arlington, East Hoathly & Hellingly</td><td>Nick Bennett</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Crowborough North & Jarvis Brook</td><td>Johanna Howell</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Crowborough South & St John's</td><td>Philip Lunn</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Forest Row & Groombridge</td><td>Georgia Taylor</td><td></td><td>Green</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>Hailsham Market</td><td>Steve Murphy</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Hailsham New Town</td><td>Gerard Fox</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Heathfield & Mayfield</td><td>Anne Cross</td><td></td><td>Green</td><td>Not standing for re-election</td></tr><tr><td>Maresfield & Buxted</td><td>Roy Galley</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Pevensey & Stone Cross</td><td>Tom Liddiard</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Polegate & Watermill</td><td>Daniel Shing</td><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Uckfield North</td><td>Claire Dowling</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Uckfield South with Framfield</td><td>Chris Dowling</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Wealden East</td><td>Bob Bowdler</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Wealden North East</td><td>Bob Standley</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Willingdon & South Downs</td><td>Stephen Shing</td><td></td><td>Independent</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>