2026 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974. Aside from a brief period from 1976 to 1980, Labour have formed majority administrations.^[12] Each election has since 1980 has returned a Labour administration holding over 70% of the seats with the Conservatives forming the principal opposition for all but three elections.^[13] The 2024 election saw Labour lose 2 seats to independents and 1 seat to the Conservatives, but retain their majority.

Over the course of the 2024 to 2026 term, Labour fell to its lowest number of councillors in over 50 years. 10 Labour councillors were suspended during an investigation into offensive messages shared to a WhatsApp group, of which Andrew Gwynne MP was also a part.^[3] 5 of these were reinstated on the conclusion of the investigation, but a further 5 seats were lost through defections or resignations.

The 2023 election used a new set of ward boundaries. As such, this election will be for councillors elected with the second highest number of votes in each of the 57 three-member wards.^[14] Labour will be defending 17 and the Conservatives will be defending 2.