Who wants to be Mayor of Suffolk and Norfolk?

The mayor's key responsibilities are likely to include transport, housing and skills

The race for the mayor of Suffolk and Norfolk has begun, with political parties starting to announce who their candidate for the top job will be.

A mayor would be in charge of what is called a combined county authority – which would be made up of Norfolk and Suffolk's councils.

The government has said the mayor will get more money and powers over things like transport, adult education and skills, and housing.

Here is a list of all the candidates who have officially declared they are running. It will be updated as they are announced.

The election will take place in May 2026.

Parties still to announce

• Reform UK said it would announce its candidate "in due course"

• We are yet to hear about any independent candidates.

The Labour Party

Labour candidate Carli Harper is Norwich City Council's cabinet member for finance and major projects

Norwich city councillor Carli Harper is standing for Labour.

Elected last year, she is the authority's cabinet member for finance and major projects, overseeing the regeneration of the former Anglia Square shopping centre and surrounding area. The project will see 1,100 homes – mostly flats - built, with the council pledging that more than half will be affordable.

Following her selection as candidate, Harper said "we can unlock the full potential of our region and build a better future for all who call it home".

A communications consultant and former Tower Hamlets councillor, she said she was "standing because I care deeply about our region".

"It's time to deliver the change and renewal Norfolk and Suffolk deserve, tackling the issues that matter most to local people, from health and the cost of living to better transport links and affordable housing.

"Together, we can build an inclusive and ambitious future for everyone across Norfolk and Suffolk — one that draws on our region's reputation for innovation, science, clean energy and creative arts to create opportunity, raise living standards, and make sure no community is left behind."

The Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat candidate Kevin Keable is chair of the East of England Energy Group

Kevin Keable is standing for the Liberal Democrats.

Born in Beccles and with a background in the oil and gas industry, he is chair of the East of England Energy Group, which represents the region's energy sector.

"This corner of England is more than my home," said Keable, who began his career with an engineering apprenticeship at Lowestoft College.

"It's where I learned to work, to play hard and to build things that last."

He said his priorities as mayor would include making Norfolk and Suffolk a "global clean energy superpower", a low carbon rural bus network - and ending sewage spills.

With one of the mayor's responsibilities including improving peoples' skills, he said he wanted to "transform education and training so local people can thrive in the new economy".

"Everywhere I go, people tell me the same thing - they feel ignored," Keable said. "London makes the decisions, Westminster takes the credit and we're left picking up the pieces."

"This mayoral election is our chance to take power back and put it where it belongs."

The Conservative Party

Tim Passmore is currently Suffolk's Police and Crime Commissioner and has been selected as the Conservative candidate for mayor

The Conservative Party has selected Tim Passmore as their candidate for mayor.

Mr Passmore, who lives in North Suffolk, has been the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) in Suffolk since the role was created more than a decade ago.

The 65-year-old was born in Suffolk and has worked in the agricultural sector for more than 30 years. He previously led Mid Suffolk Council.

He said he would fight "to ensure we receive a much fairer share of national resources instead of being continually ignored in favour of metropolitan areas".

"We pay our taxes like everyone else and receive far too little return," he added.

"My priorities will focus on making the area a more competitive place to attract inward investment and much needed economic growth.

"This means our transport system needs improving - major road upgrades, the Ely and Haughley rail junctions and Norwich Airport. Improved local public transport, especially in rural areas, will improve connectivity."

He is also a keen supporter of rolling out 5G communication technology.

"Together through the power of collaboration we can seize this opportunity and increase prosperity for all," he says.

The Green Party

Caroline Topping is the Green Party mayoral candidate for Suffolk and Norfolk and currently the leader of East Suffolk Council

Caroline Topping will stand for the Green Party.

She helped the Greens secure 16 councillors at East Suffolk Council in the 2023 district council elections and formed a coalition to lead the authority with the Liberal Democrats and Independents.

She has led East Suffolk Council for the last two years and is also a county councillor for the Beccles ward.

"I am honoured to have been chosen to represent the area I have lived and worked in for most of my life," she said.

"In my time as leader of East Suffolk Council, the council has cracked down on fraud, protecting £2.8m of taxpayers' money, driven the upgrade of play areas across the district, built new council housing for residents, put millions into community facilities - whilst coping with the huge challenges of energy infrastructure and Sizewell C construction.

"We need a representative around the table in Westminster fighting our corner and making sure we are being heard and not being left behind."

Topping has promised to run an "open and transparent mayoralty where our priorities and processes can be seen and understood by all".