The 2026 East Sussex County Council election took place in 2026 to elect members to East Sussex County Council in East Sussex, England. All 50 seats were elected. This was on the same day as other English local elections.
Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control. The Conservatives were the largest party and ran the council as a minority administration. At this election, the council remained under no overall control. The Conservatives lost most of their seats, only retaining three. Reform UK emerged as the largest party, winning 22 seats, four seats short of an overall majority. At the subsequent annual council meeting on 21 May 2026, the new Reform group leader, Andy Woolley, was appointed leader of the council, running a Reform minority administration. His candidacy was also voted for by the Conservatives and the one independent councillor. He narrowly defeated by one vote a rival bid from the Liberal Democrats and Green Party to have the Liberal Democrat leader, Kathryn Field, appointed as leader of the council instead.
Summary
Background At the 2021 election, the Conservatives won an outright majority of seats. After two 2023 by-elections following the deaths of sitting Conservative councillors the party lost overall control of the council. The election is expected to be the last before the council is abolished and replaced with new unitary authorities. The election was originally postponed from 2025, then again delayed by another year until the government u-turned and reinstated the elections for 2026.
The Conservatives and Labour Party were expected to be tested heavily due to the growth of Reform UK (notably high polling, a by-election win and a defection from the Conservatives) and the Green Party (who control councils since 2023 in Hastings, Lewes and Wealden) since the last election in 2021. The Liberal Democrats were also strong, controlling councils such as Eastbourne and being the opposition on the county council.
Prior to the election, the leader of the council was Conservative councillor Keith Glazier, who had held the post since 2013. He did not stand for re-election.
Council composition After 2021 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 27 22 11 11 4 6 5 5 0 2 3 4 Changes 2021–2026: 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
Summary
Election result
Candidates by authority
Eastbourne
Borough summary
+Eastbourne borough summaryPartySeats+/-Votes%+/- 7 1 13,672 41.3 –2.0 1 1 9,463 28.6 +28.4 1 1 5,682 17.2 –21.8 0 1 3,176 9.6 +3.2 0 922 2.8 –6.2 0 113 0.3 –0.3 0 39 0.1 N/A 0 31 0.1 N/A 0 30 0.1 –1.3Total933,12844.0Registered electors75,417–
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Devonshire Stephen Holt Hampden Park Colin Swansborough Langney Alan Shuttleworth Meads Brett Wright Old Town John Ungar Ratton Colin Belsey St Anthony's David Tutt Sovereign Penny Di Cara Upperton Pat Rodohan
Division results
Hastings
Borough summary
+Hastings borough summaryPartySeats+/-Votes%+/- 6 5 12,839 43.3 +25.6 2 1 7,679 25.9 N/A 0 3 4,790 16.2 –21.3 0 3 3,045 10.3 –28.6 0 1,286 4.3 –1.0Total829,29644.3Registered electors66,076–
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Ashdown & Conquest Aidan Fisher Baird & Ore Alan Hay Braybrooke & Castle Godfrey Daniel Central St Leonards & Gensing Trevor Webb Hollington & Wishing Tree Phil Scott Maze Hill & West St Leonards Matthew Beaver Old Hastings & Tressell Julia Hilton St Helens & Silverhill Sorrell Marlow-Eastwood
Division results
Lewes
District summary
+Lewes district summaryPartySeats+/-Votes%+/- 4 1 13,310 32.8 +7.0 3 1 10,460 25.8 +1.7 2 1 9,657 23.8 N/A 0 1 4,724 11.6 –22.1 0 2 2,419 6.0 –9.0Total840,67851.7Registered electors78,680–
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Chailey Matthew Milligan Lewes Wendy Maples Newhaven & Bishopstone James MacCleary Ouse Valley West & Downs Sarah Osborne Peacehaven Chris Collier Ringmer & Lewes Bridge Johnny Denis Seaford North Sam Adeniji Seaford South Carolyn Lambert Telscombe Christine Robinson
Division results
Rother
District summary
+Rother district SummaryPartySeats+/-Votes%+/- 7 7 11,428 32.0 +31.7 1 5 7,859 22.0 –26.9 1 5,664 15.8 +4.7 0 4,546 12.7 +6.4 0 2,779 7.8 –7.9 0 2 2,583 7.2 –10.1 0 864 2.4 N/A 0 44 0.1 N/ATotal935,84747.8Registered electors75,057–
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Battle & Crowhurst Kathryn Field Bexhill East Charles Clark Bexhill North Abul Azad Bexhill South Ian Hollidge Bexhill West Nuala Geary Brede Valley & Marsham Carl Maynard Northern Rother Paul Redstone Rother North West Eleanor Kirby-Green Rye & Eastern Rother Keith Glazier
Division results
Wealden
District summary
+Wealden district summaryPartySeats+/-Votes%+/- 10 10 21,421 33.3 N/A 2 10,530 16.4 +0.6 1 9 14,886 23.2 –23.8 1 11,461 17.8 –0.1 1 1 4,538 7.1 –3.4 0 1,518 2.1 –5.9 0 84 0.1 –0.3Total1564,65249.1Registered electors131,784–
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Arlington, East Hoathly & Hellingly Nick Bennett Crowborough North &Jarvis Brook Johanna Howell Crowborough South &St John's Philip Lunn Forest Row & Groombridge Georgia Taylor Hailsham Market Steve Murphy Hailsham New Town Gerard Fox Heathfield & Mayfield Anne Cross Maresfield & Buxted Roy Galley Pevensey & Stone Cross Tom Liddiard Polegate & Watermill Daniel Shing Uckfield North Claire Dowling Uckfield South with Framfield Chris Dowling Wealden East Bob Bowdler Wealden North East Bob Standley Willingdon & South Downs Stephen Shing
Division results
Notes
References