2026 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council election
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All 90 seats to City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council 46 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2026 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. All 90 members of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in West Yorkshire will be elected following boundary changes.
Bradford was created in 1974 as a metropolitan borough. The Conservatives formed a majority administration from its creation until 1978, when the council fell into no overall control.[2] Labour won their first majority in 1980, and have been the only party to form majority administrations since. Aside from a brief period between 2004 and 2006, Labour have been the largest party on the council for the entirety of the 21st century and have continuously held a majority of seats since 2014.[3][4]
2024 saw Labour fall to its lowest number of councillors in eight years following large gains by independents, which some attributed to Labour's stance on the Gaza war.[5] Labour won 10 seats (down 4), independents won 9 seats (up 4), the Conservatives won 4 seats (down 2), the Green Party won 4 seats (up 2) and the Liberal Democrats won 3 seats (steady). Following the election, the Conservatives formed a group with independent councillor Luke Majkowski.
This election will take place on a new set of ward boundaries, meaning all 90 seats will be up for election.[6]
Council composition
| After 2024 election | Before 2026 election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Seats | Party | Seats | ||
| Labour | 49 | Labour | 47 | ||
| Conservative | 13[c] | Conservative | 13[c] | ||
| Green | 10 | Green | 10 | ||
| Liberal Democrats | 5 | Liberal Democrats | 5 | ||
| Independent | 13[a] | Independent | 15[a] | ||
Changes 2024–2026:
- February 2025: Marcus Dearden (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[7]
- March 2025: Joe Wheatley (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[8]
- November 2025: Russell Brown (Conservative) dies – by-election held February 2026[9]
- February 2026: Paul Golding (Conservative) wins by-election[10]
References
- 1 2 3 3 groups contain independents; the Bradford Independents Group (9 councillors, lead by Talat Sajawal), the Toller Independents (1 councillor), the Conservative and Queensbury Independent Group (1 independent councillor and 12 Conservative councillors). 4 councillors sit as ungrouped independents.
- ↑ Includes the vacant seat in Worth Valley last held by the Conservatves.
- 1 2 3 The Conservatives sit as part of the Conservative and Queensbury Independent Group, alongside independent councillor Luke Majkowski.
- ↑ "Bradford Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 10 February 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ↑ "BBC News - Election 2011 - England council elections - Bradford". BBC News. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ↑ Pidd, Helen (23 May 2014). "Labour gains control of Bradford as Respect fails". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ↑ "City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ↑ "Labour retains Bradford City Council amid surge from independents". BBC News. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ↑ The Bradford (Electoral Changes) Order 2025
- ↑ Broomhead, Michael (28 February 2025). "Bradford district councillor resigns Labour whip to sit as independent". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Fabian gets the Exe". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ Shand, Alistair (12 January 2026). "By-election slammed as 'complete waste of money'". Keighley News. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ Thomson, Freya (13 February 2026). "Winner of controversial Bradford Council by-election is REVEALED". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
 Council elections in West Yorkshire | |
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| Mayor | |
| Bradford | |
| Calderdale | |
| Kirklees | |
| Leeds |
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| Wakefield | |
| West Yorkshire CC | |
| West Riding CC | |
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