Green party mayoral candidate announced

Anna Collar is an archaeologist from Lyndhurst and will be the Green's candidate

The Green party has named its candidate for next year's mayoral contest in Hampshire and the Solent.

Dr Anna Collar is an archaeologist living in Lyndhurst who works as an associate professor at the University of Southampton.

She stood in the general election in 2025 in the New Forest West seat, losing out to Conservative MP Desmond Swayne.

Elections for the mayor for Hampshire and the Solent are expected to take place in May 2026. Whoever is elected will lead a new strategic combined authority.

Anna Collar said traditional parties had "let down people for far too long", adding she was concerned about public services being "stripped back to breaking point".

She added "We must invest in our communities and protect our natural world".

The Green party says its membership has surged in recent weeks to more than 90,000 members, the highest in its history.

Mrs Collar said: "with support for Labour and Conservatives crumbling, the choice for voters in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is between the short-term, divisive and reactionary politics of Reform, or a fairer future built with hope and community at its heart offered by me and the Green Party".

Donna Jones, the current police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has been selected as the Conservatives' candidate.

Martin Tod, the leader of Winchester city council is standing for the Liberal Democrats.

The Labour candidate is expected to be announced next month.

Reform UK say their selection process is ongoing.