2026 Southampton City Council election

2026 English local government election From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2026 Southampton City Council election was held on 7 May 2026, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom being held on the same day, to elect 17 of 51 members of Southampton City Council.[2]

Quick facts 17 out of 51 seats to Southampton City Council 26 seats needed for a majority, First party ...
2026 Southampton City Council election
← 2024
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
2027 (TBD) →
17 out of 51 seats to Southampton City Council
26 seats needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Alex Winning
(defeated)
Party Labour Reform Liberal Democrats
Last election 36 seats, 39.9% 0 seats, 3.6% 4 seats, 12.7%
Seats before 32[1] 1 7
Seats won 2 8 3
Seats after 24 8 7
Seat change Decrease 8 Increase 7 Steady
Popular vote 12,709 15,351 8,447
Percentage 21.3% 25.7% 14.1%
Swing Decrease 18.6% Increase 22.1% Increase 1.4%
  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Party Green Conservative
Last election 1 seat, 9.2% 10 seats, 29.7%
Seats before 2 9
Seats won 4 0
Seats after 6 6
Seat change Increase 4 Decrease 3
Popular vote 11,750 10,013
Percentage 19.7% 16.7%
Swing Increase 10.5% Decrease 13.0%
Winner of each seat at the 2026 Southampton City Council election.
Leader before election

Alex Winning
Labour

 Leader after election

TBD
No overall control

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Due to ongoing local government reorganisation, this will be the final election to Southampton City Council before it is abolished and replaced by a successor unitary authority. Elections to the successor authority are due to take place in 2027.

Council composition

More information After 2024 election, Before 2026 election ...
After 2024 election Before 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 36 Labour 31
Conservative 10 Conservative 9
Liberal Democrats 4 Liberal Democrats 7
Green 1 Green 2
Reform 0 Reform 1
Independent 0 Independent 1
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Changes 2024–2026:

  • August 2024: Satvir Kaur (Labour) resigns – by-election held October 2024[3]
  • October 2024: George Percival (Liberal Democrats) gains by-election from Labour[4]
  • March 2025: Matt Renyard (Labour) joins Greens[5]
  • June 2025: Matthew Bunday (Labour) joins Liberal Democrats[6]
  • August 2025: Rebecca McCreanor (Labour) joins Liberal Democrats[7]
  • January 2026: George Percival (Liberal Democrats) resigns – by-election held February 2026[8]
  • February 2026:
    • Sarah Powell-Vaughan (Conservatives) joins Reform[9]
    • Chris Shank (Liberal Democrats) wins by-election[10]
    • Lee Whitbread (Labour) suspended from party[11]

Summary

Background

In 2024, Labour retained control of the council.[12]

Election result

More information Party, This election ...
2026 Southampton City Council election[1]
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Labour 2 Decrease 8 11.8 22 24 47.1 12,709 21.3 –18.6
  Reform 8 Increase 7 47.1 0 8 15.7 15,351 25.7 +22.1
  Liberal Democrats 3 Steady 17.6 4 7 13.7 8,447 14.1 +1.4
  Green 4 Increase 4 23.5 2 6 11.8 11,750 19.7 +10.5
  Conservative 0 Decrease 3 0.0 6 6 11.8 10,013 16.7 –13.0
  TUSC 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 1,070 1.8 –2.2
  Ind. Network 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 365 0.6 N/A
  Independent 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 84 0.1 N/A
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Incumbents

More information Ward, Incumbent councillor ...
Ward Incumbent
councillor		 Party Re-standing
Banister & Polygon Steve Leggett Labour Yes
Bargate John Noon Labour Yes
Bassett Sam Chapman Liberal Democrats Yes
Bevois Mike Denness Labour No
Bitterne Park Phil Webb Labour Yes
Coxford Rebecca McCreanor Liberal Democrats No
Freemantle Pam Kenny Labour Yes
Harefield Valerie Laurent Conservative No
Millbrook Jeremy Moulton Conservative Yes
Peartree Alex Houghton Conservative Yes
Portswood Marie Finn Labour Yes
Redbridge Lee Whitbread Labour No
Shirley Alexander Winning Labour Yes
Sholing Sarah Powell-Vaughan[a] Reform Yes
Swaythling Matthew Bunday[b] Liberal Democrats No
Thornhill Andy Frampton Labour Yes
Woolston Sue Blatchford Labour No
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Ward results

Banister & Polygon

More information Party, Candidate ...
Banister & Polygon
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Misty Burgess 1,183 38.7 +23.2
Labour Steve Leggett* 839 27.4 −18.6
Reform Toriola Coker 415 13.6 N/A
Conservative Sarah Ballie 356 11.6 −10.8
Liberal Democrats Reuben Hinchliffe 182 5.9 −6.0
Independent John Cooney 84 2.7 N/A
Majority 344 11.3 N/A
Turnout 3068 36.4 +9.9
Registered electors 8,432
Green gain from Labour Swing Increase20.9
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Bargate

More information Party, Candidate ...
Bargate
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Luke Reynolds 702 27.9 +16.8
Labour John Noon* 665 26.5 −23.7
Reform Kevin Masters 501 19.9 N/A
Liberal Democrats Adrian Ford 354 14.1 +6.7
Conservative Ivan White 262 10.4 −16.2
TUSC Donna Dee 29 1.2 −3.4
Majority 37 1.4 N/A
Turnout 2,520 29.7 +7.5
Registered electors 8,485
Green gain from Labour Swing Increase20.3
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Bassett

More information Party, Candidate ...
Bassett
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Sam Chapman* 1,596 39.1 −4.8
Conservative Amanda Guest 919 22.5 −6.1
Reform Kurosh Shadmand 755 18.5 +12.7
Green Bobby Grigore 467 11.4 +5.5
Labour Co-op Robert Wolfe 321 7.9 −6.5
TUSC Nick Davies 27 0.7 −0.8
Majority 677 16.6 +1.3
Turnout 4,096 43.4 +7.2
Registered electors 9,434
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Increase0.7
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Bevois

More information Party, Candidate ...
Bevois
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Paul Kenny 972 31.3 −17.3
TUSC Nadia Ditta 739 23.8 −8.4
Green Amy Sefton-Thake 690 22.2 +14.1
Reform Dennis Steas 274 8.8 N/A
Liberal Democrats Abdiwali Elmi 233 7.5 +3.6
Conservative Richard Palmer 194 6.3 −1.0
Majority 233 7.5 −8.9
Turnout 3,102 34.5 +4.1
Registered electors 9,003
Labour hold Swing Decrease4.5
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Bitterne Park

More information Party, Candidate ...
Bitterne Park
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Phil Webb* 1,290 27.1 −15.7
Conservative David Fuller 1,132 23.8 −16.6
Reform Trecious Chitsika 962 20.2 +16.0
Green Lindsi Bluemel 709 14.9 +6.1
Liberal Democrats Tony Bunday 646 13.6 +9.9
TUSC Nick Chaffey 26 0.5 −1.1
Majority 158 3.3 +1.0
Turnout 4,780 45.9 +8.6
Registered electors 10,418
Labour hold Swing Increase0.5
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Coxford

More information Party, Candidate ...
Coxford
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Philip Crook 1,416 39.8 +30.8
Conservative Paul Nolan 673 18.9 −16.7
Labour Co-op Gwen Gordon 653 18.3 −18.9
Green Ronald Meldrum 464 13.0 +6.8
Liberal Democrats Peter Galton 327 9.2 +1.7
TUSC Maggie Fricker 26 0.7 −0.8
Majority 743 20.9 N/A
Turnout 3,574 35.4 +5.1
Registered electors 10,102
Reform gain from Liberal Democrats Swing Increase23.8
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Freemantle

More information Party, Candidate ...
Freemantle
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Sam Pryce 1,136 31.1 +20.9
Labour Co-op Pam Kenny* 1,060 29.0 −20.9
Reform Philip Small 711 19.5 +13.0
Conservative Diana Galton 447 12.2 −9.3
Liberal Democrats Max Hayman 269 7.4 −1.3
TUSC Catherine Clarke 32 0.9 −2.2
Majority 76 2.1 N/A
Turnout 3,663 38.5 +10.3
Registered electors 9,527
Green gain from Labour Co-op Swing Increase20.9
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Harefield

More information Party, Candidate ...
Harefield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Richard Piatkiewicz 1,185 33.4 N/A
Conservative Callum Ford 949 26.7 −16.8
Labour Daniel Jeffery 613 17.3 −19.0
Green Christopher Bluemel 489 13.8 +7.5
Liberal Democrats Martyn Cooper 302 8.5 −2.3
TUSC Graham Henry 15 0.4 −3.2
Majority 236 6.7 N/A
Turnout 3,557 36.4 +8.2
Registered electors 9,782
Reform gain from Conservative
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Millbrook

More information Party, Candidate ...
Millbrook
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Ross Mould 869 28.6 N/A
Conservative Jeremy Moulton* 845 27.8 −12.7
Labour Co-op Anwar Jawula 607 20.0 −21.6
Green Richard Fricker 479 15.8 +6.9
Liberal Democrats Ellen McGeorge 217 7.1 +1.1
TUSC Andrew Howe 22 0.7 −2.3
Majority 24 0.8 N/A
Turnout 3,046 32.1 +5.3
Registered electors 9,490
Reform gain from Conservative
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Peartree

More information Party, Candidate ...
Peartree
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Soham Bandyopadhyay 1,354 31.4 +21.8
Conservative Alex Houghton* 1,265 29.4 −6.4
Labour Sue Blatchford* 765 17.8 −23.1
Green Lee Ingram 654 15.2 +8.3
Liberal Democrats Robert William Naish 252 5.8 +0.1
TUSC Mike Marx 19 0.4 −0.7
Majority 89 2.0 N/A
Turnout 4,309 40.3 +10.3
Registered electors 10,720
Reform gain from Conservative Swing Increase14.1
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Portswood

More information Party, Candidate ...
Portswood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Lori Foster 1,432 38.6 +9.5
Labour Co-op Marie Finn* 864 23.3 −23.0
Liberal Democrats Matthew Bunday* 718 19.4 +12.9
Reform David Chapman 427 11.5 +7.7
Conservative Nick Moulton 244 6.6 −5.5
TUSC Tony Twine 22 0.6 −1.6
Majority 568 15.3 N/A
Turnout 3,713 45.0 +8.5
Registered electors 8,252
Green gain from Labour Co-op Swing Increase16.3
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Redbridge

More information Party, Candidate ...
Redbridge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform John Edwards 1,144 40.1 +27.8
Labour Adrian Pimley 557 19.5 −32.0
Ind. Network Andrew Pope 365 12.8 N/A
Green Lisa Fricker 344 12.1 +5.6
Conservative Dave Smith 290 10.2 −13.0
Liberal Democrats Simon Stokes 145 5.1 −0.5
TUSC Pete Wyatt 5 0.2 −0.7
Majority 587 20.6 N/A
Turnout 2,859 29.2 +5.6
Registered electors 9,790
Reform gain from Labour Swing Increase29.9
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Shirley

More information Party, Candidate ...
Shirley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Rebecca McCreanor* 1,229 28.6 +8.7
Labour Alex Winning* 1,088 25.3 −14.2
Green Joanne Clements 811 18.9 +11.8
Reform Paul Chance 789 18.4 +11.7
Conservative Hilary Moulton 380 8.8 −16.5
Majority 141 3.3 N/A
Turnout 4,309 42.2 +6.1
Registered electors 10,217
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing Increase11.5
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Sholing

More information Party, Candidate ...
Sholing
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Sarah Powell-Vaughan* 1,434 37.1 N/A
Conservative Andy Palmer 878 22.7 −23.5
Labour Charlotte Parkin 563 14.6 −19.3
Green Neil Kelly 498 12.9 +6.6
Liberal Democrats Sharon Hopkins 489 12.7 +0.9
Majority 556 14.4 N/A
Turnout 3,873 37.5 +8.5
Registered electors 10,323
Reform hold
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Swaythling

More information Party, Candidate ...
Swaythling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jon Walsh 1,029 33.4 −8.7
Green Angela Cotton 691 22.4 +13.1
Reform Bruce Robinson 680 22.1 N/A
Labour Amelia Tamblyn 426 13.8 −16.7
Conservative Pritheepal Roath 231 7.5 −7.9
TUSC Fintan Broderick 21 0.7 −2.0
Majority 338 11.0 −0.6
Turnout 3,086 35.3 +4.3
Registered electors 8,738
Liberal Democrats hold Swing Decrease10.9
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Thornhill

More information Party, Candidate ...
Thornhill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Tim Kiff-Munds 1,215 41.6 N/A
Labour Andy Frampton* 627 21.5 −26.4
Conservative Matt Jones 456 15.6 −22.3
Green Jodie Copeland 403 13.8 +8.6
Liberal Democrats Edward Bolton 187 6.4 +0.6
TUSC Tim Cutter 34 1.2 −2.0
Majority 588 20.1 N/A
Turnout 2,934 29.8 +4.7
Registered electors 9,845
Reform gain from Labour
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Woolston

More information Party, Candidate ...
Woolston
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Ryan Collett 1,220 35.5 N/A
Labour Victoria Ugwoeme* 799 23.3 −16.5
Green Carmel Herrigan 598 17.4 +9.9
Conservative Scott Davis 492 14.3 −26.9
Liberal Democrats Francis Hedley 272 7.9 +0.2
TUSC Sue Atkins 53 1.5 −2.3
Majority 421 12.2 N/A
Turnout 3,442 32.9 +7.5
Registered electors 10,474
Reform gain from Labour
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Notes

  1. [a]
    Originally elected as Conservative, but defected to Reform in February 2026.
  2. [b]
    Originally elected as Labour, but defected to the Liberal Democrats in June 2025.

References

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