Four Sussex council areas prepare to vote in local elections

Voters in East and West Sussex go to the polls in May, with 56 seats in four local councils up for re-election.

With a general election expected later in 2024, the local vote is being seen as a crucial test for the government.

Voting takes place on 2 May, with votes being counted throughout the day on 3 May and results expected late in the afternoon.

Anyone planning to vote in person at a polling station must bring an approved form of photo ID.

Half of Hastings' 32 seats are up for re-election in a borough which saw political upheaval and a change of leadership as recently as January.

Previously under Labour control, eight members of the party, including its leader and deputy leader, split to form the Hastings Independents, taking control of the council in alliance with the Green Party's four members, with the leader of the Green Party now heading the council.

Labour have been left with six seats, while the Conservatives are currently the largest single party on the council, holding 10 seats. Three more independents and a Reform UK councillor make up the rest of the authority going into the election.

A full list of candidates standing in Hastings can be found here.

Always a close contest between Labour and the Conservatives, 2024 is expected to be no different in Crawley. Labour currently hold 20 of the 36 seats and the Conservatives the remaining 16.

This time around 12 seats are being contested.

The parliamentary seat is seen as a key marginal, and has been held for the Conservatives since 2010 by Henry Smith, currently with a majority of more than 8,000.

In March 2023 he announced he would not be standing at the next election.

A full list of candidates standing in Crawley can be found here.

Fifteen of Adur's 29 seats are being contested as part of the regular 2024 elections.

The authority goes into the election under the control of the Conservatives with 16 seats, ahead of Labour on nine, and the Greens and Shoreham Beach Residents' Association with two each.

Nine of those Conservative seats are up for grabs, along with four of Labour's and one each for the Greens and Shoreham Beach Residents' Association.

In March Labour councillor Cat Arnold announced she was standing down with immediate effect, which means a by-election for her seat of St Mary's is also being held on 2 May.

A full list of candidates standing in Adur can be found here.

When Labour took overall control of Worthing from a minority Conservative administration it was one of the biggest shocks of the 2022 local elections.

Of the council's 37 seats 13 are being contested in 2024, seven currently held by Labour, five by Conservatives and one by a Liberal Democrat.

A full list of candidates standing in Worthing can be found here.

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