Elections to West Sussex County Council

Alison Bennett Excerpts

Wednesday 7th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Alison Bennett (Mid Sussex) (LD)]

This petition is accompanied by an online petition. It calls for elections to West Sussex county council to go ahead this year. Were those elections not to go ahead, sitting councillors would serve for six years rather than the usual four, which makes a mockery of our democracy.

The petition states:

“The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to reject any request from West Sussex County Council to delay its election, enabling the election to go ahead as planned in May 2026.”

Following is the full text of the petition:

[The petition of residents of West Sussex,

Declares that if the Government were to agree to a request from West Sussex County Council to delay its election due this May, this would result in sitting councillors serving for up to six years, rather than the usual four, resulting in a democratic deficit.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to reject any request from West Sussex County Council to delay its election, enabling the election to go ahead as planned in May 2026.

And the petitioners remain, etc.]

[P003155]