Cumbria Mayor Election Delayed to 2027 as Government Announce Cumbria Devolution is Moving Forward

Government’s plans for devolution for Cumbria have taken another step forward today (Thursday 17th July) with five other areas as part of the Government Devolution Priority Programme with Cumbria set to get it’s own mayors with powers over housing, transport and other vital areas. Ministers today confirmed Cumbria has along with five other areas met key legal tests to proceed.

Six areas will be progressed as part of the Government Devolution Priority Programme Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent. Subject to local councils’ agreement, they will now be able to move forward with the creation of Mayoral Strategic Authorities.

The government has also published reports on the responses received to the public consultations that took place in each DPP area earlier this year.

Overall the consultation in Cumbria received 1,325 responses from individuals and organisations including: 1,236 from members of the public, and 89 from a range of organisations including the prospective constituent and other local councils, businesses, the voluntary and community sectors and academic institutions.

Minister for Local Government and English Devolution Jim McMahon OBE MP said:

We are taking the next step in our devolution revolution, shifting power out of Whitehall and into our communities as part of our Plan for Change.

These sweeping new powers for communities will put them on the fast track to deliver growth, opportunities, transport and housing.   

The six devolution priority areas are leading the way towards a new era of devolved power in England and a stronger relationship between central and local government. We stand ready to work with local leaders in realising their areas’ incredible potential.

Inaugural mayoral elections will take place in May 2026 for Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, and Hampshire and the Solent.

But following a request from the local authority leaders across Cumbria and Cheshire and Warrington, the government has agreed to align inaugural mayoral elections in these two areas with the local elections in May 2027 that in Cumbria will see elections all take place on the same day for a Mayor, Westmorland and Furness Council, Cumberland Council and over 250 town and parish council elections with voters having multiple votes to cast including a supplementary vote for the Mayor election after the government recent announcement that it will scrap first past the post for mayor elections.

Today's announcement of the changes comes as the government also announced it plans to allow 16 and 17 year old to vote in future elections as part of raft of change to the election process.

The government will continue to work with affected councils over the summer, including confirming funding for new authorities, with thirty-year investment funds remaining a core part of the offer. Funding will also be standardised to increase transparency and fairness.

The news follows the introduction of the new English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill in Parliament last week. The Bill aims to de-centralise power and ignite regional growth, helping local people take back control of their regions.