21/05/2026
It is an enormous honour to have been re-elected Leader of Hampshire County Council.
I am deeply grateful to colleagues for the trust they have placed in me. That trust has to be earned — not just in the Council Chamber, but every day in the decisions we take, the services we provide, and the way we conduct ourselves on behalf of the people of Hampshire.
The recent elections delivered a clear message. Residents came out in significant numbers and voted in many different ways. Some voted positively for parties and candidates they supported. Others voted to stop parties or candidates they opposed. Many voted for parties which have not previously featured so prominently at County Hall.
All of those votes matter. All of those residents deserve to be heard. And all of the councillors elected to Hampshire County Council deserve to be treated with respect.
That is why I am particularly grateful to the Independent and Reform groups for engaging in constructive conversation in recent days. We will not agree on everything, but they were willing to talk, to listen and to discuss how this Council can work in the interests of Hampshire residents.
I regret that the Liberal Democrats chose not only not to engage in those conversations, but to reject any discussion altogether. But I want to be absolutely clear: my door remains open. At any time. If they wish to talk, to contribute, to challenge constructively, or to work together to improve the lives of people across Hampshire, I will welcome that.
This is not a time for national party politics in miniature. It is a time for serious, responsible and collaborative local government.
The administration I lead will be collegiate, cooperative and transparent. We will work with anyone who wants to deliver better outcomes for the residents we all serve.
We will now get on with delivering the pledges we made during the election campaign.
We will move immediately to pursue a Judicial Review of the Local Government Reorganisation outcome. Change of this scale must be lawful, evidence-based, financially credible and in the interests of Hampshire residents.
We will invest in Hampshire’s roads, including £15 million this summer in long-term road resilience work, targeted at making journeys safer and reducing the cycle of repeated temporary repairs.
We will hold utility companies to account when they dig up our streets.
We will defend Hampshire’s countryside from inappropriate development, while recognising the need for planned, sustainable growth supported by proper infrastructure.
We will back local businesses, skills, apprenticeships and high streets.
And we will continue to spend public money carefully, protect essential services, prioritise frontline delivery and fight for fairer funding for Hampshire.
The challenges facing this Council are serious: social care, SEND, school transport, roads, finances and the future shape of local government itself.
I will not pretend every answer is easy. It is not.
I will not promise residents things this Council does not have the power or money to deliver.
But I will promise this.
We will be straight with people. We will focus on what matters. We will treat public money with respect. We will stand up for Hampshire. And we will work with anyone who shares that purpose.
Our job is to serve you, the people of Hampshire.
Not ourselves. Not our parties. You.
That is the approach I intend to take.
