Overview
- Councils and local outlets have released complete ward-by-ward slates for the May 7 polls across Southwark, Sutton, Calderdale and the Surrey areas that will form the new East and West authorities.
- Surrey’s overhaul replaces the county and 11 boroughs with two unitary councils, and those elected will act as shadow members who set budgets, staffing and governance ahead of the April 1, 2027 handover.
- Boundary changes in Calderdale have triggered an all-out contest for all 54 seats, with 242 candidates standing and both the Green Party and Reform UK fielding full slates of 54.
- Southwark lists 292 candidates competing for 63 seats, with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives each running a full slate, the Greens naming 61 and Reform UK 35.
- Sutton confirms 228 candidates for 55 seats and says Reform UK will stand 51 across all 20 wards, while polling runs 7am to 10pm on May 7 with counts expected on May 8.