Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has announced her intention to stand in the first mayoral elections for the new strategic authority.
Hampshire and the Solent region was successful in applying to be part of the Labour Government’s devolution fast-track initiative.
Under this programme a strategic authority will be created and elections for a mayor will take place in May 2026.
Typically mayors will have responsibility for areas such as infrastructure, transport, skills, employment and housing, with powers and funding transferred from Westminster to the new authority.
Conservative Hampshire and Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner Donna Jones, who was elected to a second term last year, said it was “clear” the current devolution proposals would likely see her role’s office and the governance of the fire service subsumed to the mayor’s office.
The former leader of Portsmouth City Council said:
“Embedding public safety within the broader scope of regional governance is key. Community safety must be a central pillar to benefit the unique aspects of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; the counties I care so deeply about.
“That is why I intend to run as mayor for Hampshire and the Solent in the mayoral elections in May 2026.”
Article continues below this advertisement
Ms Jones said the plan for devolution was “one of the biggest changes in governance” nationally and locally in a generation. It offered “huge” opportunities for the region, she added.
The current police and crime commissioner said strong public protection and safer neighbourhoods must be at the heart of the strategic authority.
Last month the government launched a public consultation on creating a strategic authority in the region.
Residents, businesses and stakeholders have until 13th April to share their views on the proposals for the areas covered by Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and Isle of Wight Council.
Other areas being fast-tracked include Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, and Sussex and Brighton.
The devolution strategic authority programme is separate to discussions taking place on local government reorganisation, which will see the current mix of 2-tier and unitary councils, replaced with larger organisations delivering all services.
This is a joke right?
the country is falling apart,migrunts are pouring in,and after this fiasco of a budget this month,unemployment will soar and british people will be literally put into utter poverty,and fools like this who have already decimated our police force,now want to do the same to the whole region and the island
people will be queuing to get inti the boats that the migrunts arrive on TO LEAVE this dictatorship of a once great country!
Agree with you totally, the police do absolutely nothing as it is? What planet is she on. Let’s all vote her out? Of course we can’t? We want someone who actually does something about the crime etc not just talk about it and get paid big bucks for doing f… all!!!
When did we, “The Isle of Wight” suddenly loose our identity?
who lives in the “Solent” it’s a body of water?
Have we missed the vote for this name change?
Do we change our addresses to the “COUNTY” of the “The Solent”? Or are we now absorbed into “Hampshire and Solent”.
Please stop using this objectionable new term or it will become the accepted way of referring to us.
It’ll be Victory Energy all over again. I wonder if she’ll repeat a “Get Brexit done” style fiasco.
Oh hell no! Kiss goodbye to improvements for the masses…the only thing she’s interested in is improvements for Tory mates. Andy Burnham she ain’t!
Might be a good thing, cannot be worse than what
we currently have.
God help us if this chump gets the post, it is not something REAL islanders want, absolutely bloody useless, words, words, more words and no action. Last thing we need is to be run by the mainland, I know this council is useless, but we need OUR right to vote given back THIS year.
Without the mainland the island would be lost.
Majority of large businesses based on the Island
are mainland companies, also Islanders rely on
Pompey and Soton Hospitals.
Devolution will be good for the island.
Whoopee
ALL ABOARD THE GRAVY TRAIN LEAVING FROM THE SUCKERS PLATFORM IS IT THE AUTHORITY OR THE MONEY
The revolving door syndrome strikes again. I thought the Tories were against this policy – but not sufficiently oppsed not to get their nose in the trough ready.
Pre-emptive self importance. This is happening because Starmer said today he wants to get rid of a lot of quangos…non-governmental departments which are an added and useless cost. The PCCs are those types of bodies. Basically, her job is on the line and she’s looking to retain relevance and power. Just so you know.
Like it or not, devolution is happening
people won’t have a choice.
Personally from what I have seen living
on the island for nearly 40+ years
devolution will be a good thing, it
cannot be worse than what we currently
have.
Good luck Donna
But where are the OTHER candidates?