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Surrey Reorganisation

Elections

7 May 2026 — the inaugural election for the new West Surrey Council.

452 candidates are standing for 90 seats across 45 wards in the first-ever West Surrey Council election. Each ward elects 2 councillors — voters can mark up to 2 candidates on their ballot. Three parties (Conservative, Liberal Democrat, and Reform UK) have fielded a full slate of 90 candidates each.

The elected councillors will form a shadow authority from May 2026, setting budgets, agreeing staffing structures, and preparing for the full transfer of powers on 1 April 2027. This represents a 67% reduction in councillors — from 287 across the old councils to 90. Results are expected on the afternoon of Friday 8 May.

Candidates

452

Standing for election

Seats

90

Across 45 wards (2 per ward)

Election Date

7 May

2026 — results expected 8 May

Councillor Reduction

67%

From 287 to 90

Parties & Pledges

Key pledges and positions from parties fielding 6 or more candidates. The debt crisis — with West Surrey inheriting ~£4 billion — is the dominant issue.

Conservative Party

90candidatesFull slate
  • •No specific West Surrey manifesto published
  • •Waste management and infrastructure investment
  • •Road resurfacing and broadband expansion
  • •Supporting young people into employment

On the debt crisis

No public acknowledgement of responsibility for the Woking debt crisis, which occurred under Conservative-controlled councils.

Liberal Democrats

90candidatesFull slate
  • •"A Fresh Start for West Surrey" — financially secure, well-run council
  • •Rebuilding trust by doing ordinary things well
  • •Press government for further debt support beyond the £500m write-off
  • •Infrastructure maintenance, social services, climate action

On the debt crisis

Three Lib Dem MPs (Forster, Franklin, Pinkerton) have expressed "grave concerns" that West Surrey could be "bankrupt from Day 1". Actively campaigning for more government debt relief.

Reform UK

90candidatesFull slate
  • •Oppose net zero policies and anti-car infrastructure
  • •Brownfield-only development, protect green belt
  • •Cut council spending — claim £325m saved by Reform-run councils
  • •Local consent requirements for development projects

On the debt crisis

Acknowledge the ~£8,000 per elector debt burden and blame Conservative mismanagement, but focus on general spending cuts rather than specific restructuring.

Green Party

78candidates
  • •Citizens’ Assembly for reaching net zero by 2030
  • •Greater powers for Town and Parish Councils
  • •Promote local sustainable businesses
  • •150,000 new social homes per year nationally, rent controls

Labour Party

65candidates
  • •Education funding and school improvements
  • •Transport and road condition improvements
  • •Social care funding
  • •Tackling antisocial behaviour

Labour & Co-operative

8candidates
  • •Standing on joint Labour & Co-operative ticket

Farnham Residents

6candidates
  • •Practical, less tribal approach — focused on results not party lines
  • •Investment in car park repairs, maintain free Sunday parking
  • •Road safety improvements at Wrecclesham Bridge, new footpaths
  • •Work constructively across parties on the £4bn inherited debt

On the debt crisis

Acknowledge the £4 billion inherited debt challenge and pledge constructive cross-party collaboration with government to maintain financial stability.

Independent

22candidates
  • •Various independent candidates standing on local issues

Candidates by Ward

All 452 candidates across 45 wards, grouped by the 6 former borough/district council areas. Expand each area to see full candidate listings.

Ash

Andrew Bolton(Conservative)John Tonks(Conservative)Philip Bellamy(Lib Dem)Carla Morson(Lib Dem)Laurence Hodge(Reform)Patrick Kelly(Reform)Freya Grondinger(Green)Josh Shahrum-Smith(Green)Lewis Jewell(Labour)Nigel Manning(Independent)

Guildford East

Adam Heilbron(Conservative)David Humphries(Conservative)George Potter(Lib Dem)Joanne Shaw(Lib Dem)Robert Dowsett Abrams(Reform)Dennis Paul(Reform)Luis Machado(Green)Lisa McKeown(Green)Moira Noble(Labour)

Guildford North

Adrian Chandler(Conservative)Neil O’Brien(Conservative)Masuk Miah(Lib Dem)Katie Steel(Lib Dem)Ben Bispham(Reform)Aidan Sallis(Reform)Marco Crosta(Green)Stuart McAlpine(Green)Anne Rouse(Labour Co-op)

Guildford South East

Thom Van Every(Conservative)Alex Fiuza(Conservative)Vanessa King(Lib Dem)James Thornton(Lib Dem)Veronica Hurst(Reform)Claire Partridge-Waymouth(Reform)Charlie Parker(Green)Matt Price(Green)Sean Sussex(Labour)Tim Wolfenden(Independent)

Guildford South West

Honor Brooker(Conservative)Andre Hester(Conservative)Angela Goodwin(Lib Dem)Steve Hives(Lib Dem)John Le Cheminant(Reform)Charles Whiting(Reform)Matt Fray(Green)Claire Whitehouse(Green)Vlad Stoiana-Mois(Labour)

Guildford West

Christopher Jay(Conservative)Malachy Ujam(Conservative)Julia McShane(Lib Dem)James Steel(Lib Dem)Sophie Evans(Reform)Dale Layman(Reform)Jack Mountford(Green)Jack Whitehouse(Green)Howard Smith(Labour)John Morris(Peace)

Horsleys

David Evans(Conservative)Sam Tough(Conservative)Olly Kekwick(Lib Dem)Merel Rehorst-Smith(Lib Dem)Martin Sargeant(Reform)Henry Walter(Reform)Elena Daniilidou(Green)Isaac Short(Green)John Barnes(Labour)Dennis Booth(R4GV)Catherine Young(R4GV)

Shalford

Sallie Barker(Conservative)Matt Furniss(Conservative)Stephen Mallet(Lib Dem)Dominique Williams(Lib Dem)Neil Crossley(Reform)Gary Jackson(Reform)Adrian Barbrooke(Green)Christopher Wade(Green)Peter Lockhart(Labour)

Shere

Bob Hughes(Conservative)Victoria Sena(Conservative)James Markey(Lib Dem)Jane Tyson(Lib Dem)Chris Jellard(Reform)Denis Podany(Reform)Cynthia Page(Green)Martyn Turner(Green)James Muller(Labour Co-op)

Worplesdon

Bilal Akhtar(Conservative)Jonathan Lord(Conservative)Matthew Felgate(Lib Dem)Jason Martin(Lib Dem)Andrew Berry(Reform)Kate Broadhurst(Reform)Alex McElduff(Green)Jayden Sarma(Green)Brian Creese(Labour)

Sources