Local elections attract record 50 candidates in Eastbourne

By Paul Bromley, former political correspondent

A record number of candidates is standing in Eastbourne for the county council elections.

Analysis by Eastbourne Reporter of the list of nominations shows a total of 50 people contesting the nine voting areas. This is up from the 44 candidates at the last set of East Sussex County Council (ESCC) elections in 2021.

All the main parties – Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and Reform – are fielding a full slate of candidates, with representatives standing in each of the town’s nine council divisions. In addition, there are two Independents and one each from UKIP, Trade Union and Socialist Coalition, and Heritage Party.

One notable absentee is David Tutt, the deputy leader of the ESCC Lib Dem group and former leader of Eastbourne Borough Council (EBC). He has decided not to stand this time, having served on ESCC for 45 years since 1981.

Cllr Tutt told the Eastbourne Reporter he was taking time out but did not rule out standing for the new unitary authority which will eventually replace ESCC.

The biggest changes in candidate numbers are with Reform and UKIP. Reform put up two candidates five years ago and now has nine people seeking election while UKIP has dropped from five to one candidate.

The 44 candidates standing in 2021 was also an increase on the 42 who stood in Eastbourne in 2017.

Why are there county council elections this May?

County council elections are normally held every four years. The elections were due to be held in May last year.

Those elections were postponed by the Government which had set Sussex on course for a mayoral election to be held in May 2026 alongside local government reorganisation to create new unitary councils. The mayoral election has now been postponed to May 2028 and the reorganisation process has been “paused” by the Government.

What happened in Eastbourne last time?

The Liberal Democrats won six and the Conservatives three of the nine county council places in Eastbourne. The Lib Dems and Conservatives finished first or second in every one of the nine voting areas. They took between them four out of every five votes cast in Eastbourne.

The Lib Dems won Devonshire, Hampden Park, Langney, Old Town, St Anthony’s and Upperton. The Conservatives won Meads, Ratton and Sovereign.

What has happened in Eastbourne since the last elections?

Meads area Conservative county councillor Barry Taylor died and a by-election was held in August 2023.

Brett Wright won the by-election for the Liberal Democrats, beating the Conservatives into second place in what has traditionally been a solid Tory area.

The political shockwaves extended beyond the Meads area; it meant the Conservatives lost overall control of ESCC and have run the council as a minority administration since then.

Brett Wright announced earlier this year he had defected from the Lib Dems to the Greens, becoming the first Green county councillor in Eastbourne.

Will the new ESCC councillors serve for four years?

No. Although the Government has said it has concerns about the plans for new unitary councils in Sussex and wants changes, ministers say elections to the new authorities will go ahead as planned in May 2027.

There will then be a “shadow” year before all the existing county, borough and district councils including ESCC and EBC are dissolved in April 2028.

Where can I find the full list of candidates?

The Statement of Persons Nominated is on ESCC’s website here.

When does polling take place?

Details of deadlines for registering to vote, applying for a proxy vote and other electoral matters are on ESCC’s website here.

Polling stations open at 7am and close at 10pm on Thursday 7 May.

Voters are reminded to bring a form of photo ID.

:: Paul Bromley is a qualified journalist and broadcaster who worked for 40 years for regional newspapers, the Press Association and Sky News, specialising in reporting politics and elections. He now works in community rail

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