The leader of Southampton City Council has announced she will be standing down to focus on seeking to become Labour’s candidate to be the first regional mayor of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Cllr Lorna Fielker’s time in the top political post at the local authority will conclude by the end of July.

The Swaythling ward member said she had not taken the personal decision lightly, adding that “big changes” were coming to local government.

As part of the government’s devolution priority programme, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is being fast tracked to set up a regional combined mayoral authority in May next year.

The elected mayor is expected to have responsibility for areas such as infrastructure, transport, skills and employment, with powers and funding transferred down from Westminster.

Cllr Fielker said: “To be credible in that role, I need to speak for the whole region, not just the city.

“The combined authority represents a huge opportunity.

“I believe our region deserves a strong, collaborative voice, someone who understands how to unlock its full potential by working together.”

Cllr Fielker was appointed council leader in January 2024 at a time when the local authority was hanging on a precipice, with a £40million revenue budget gap for the upcoming year.

She said her proudest achievements included addressing financial challenges, which halved budget gap covered by exceptional financial support in 2024/25, and launching the renaissance vision master plan for the city centre.

Cllr Fielker added: “This transformative vision will deliver new jobs and homes and put Southampton on the map as the destination for sport, leisure and entertainment on the south coast.

“The positive impact of this regeneration will be felt both across all our communities and the wider region.

“It’s this sort of vision, working in partnership with the Hampshire Solent local authorities, business and other partners that I want to deliver for the region.

“Until a new leader is selected, I will continue to serve and do all I can to ensure Southampton is on a stronger, more stable path, for today and for the future.”

Cllr Fielker said she was looking forward to continue representing the people of Swaythling after she steps down as leader.

The Labour group, which holds a large majority on the council, will select a new leader. This choice will then go to a full council meeting to be formally elected.

Last week, Cllr Fielker faced questions from Conservative group leader Cllr Peter Baillie on “quite fervent speculation” that she was stepping down in two or three months time.

At the annual council meeting on Wednesday, May 14, Cllr Fielker said: “I always put this council first and this city first in all of my actions.”

She added: “I  have been elected leader today and I am leader of this council and I intend to lead this council.”

Cllr Fielker is not the first elected representative to declare an ambition to stand as a mayoral candidate.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight police crime commissioner Donna Jones announced in March that she wanted to stand as the Conservative candidate in the election.

Party selection processes for mayoral candidates have yet to take place.

Cllr Lorna Fielker’s statement on standing down as leader in full

“Big changes are coming to local government. Southampton is set to become part of a new, larger regional combined mayoral authority, due to be formed in May 2026. This will bring new powers and responsibilities, not just for Southampton, but across the region.

“That’s why I will be putting myself forward to stand as the Labour candidate for Mayor.

“To be credible in that role, I need to speak for the whole region, not just the city. The combined authority represents a huge opportunity. I believe our region deserves a strong,  collaborative voice, someone who understands how to unlock its full potential by working together.

“To give that campaign the focus it needs, I’ll step down as Leader of Southampton City Council by the end of July 2025. The right thing for Southampton and its partners is for me to step aside and allow another leader to take on the mantle as leader of the council, continuing the work I and the rest of the Labour administration have set in motion.

“I am incredibly proud of the work our Labour administration has achieved for Southampton under my leadership through some truly challenging financial circumstances.

“We’ve made real progress. In just one year, we’ve halved the £40million budget gap. That’s been achieved without cutting frontline services people value and rely on.

“We have also launched our ambitious renaissance vision for Southampton, a bold plan for the future of our city centre. This transformative vision will deliver new jobs and homes and put Southampton on the map as the destination for sport, leisure and entertainment on the south coast. The positive impact of this regeneration will be felt both across all our communities and the wider region. It’s this sort of vision, working in partnership with the Hampshire Solent local authorities, business and other partners that I want to deliver for the region.

“Until a new leader is selected, I will continue to serve and do all I can to ensure Southampton is on a stronger, more stable path, for today and for the future.”