This will be the first election on an all-out cycle whereby all councillors will be elected every four years, after the change was approved by the council in 2025.[1]
Background
Barnsley was created in 1974 as a metropolitan borough. Labour have always performed well in local elections, holding majority control of the council since its creation.[2] The closest Labour have come to losing their majority on the council was 2006 and 2008, where the success of the Barnsley Independents saw the party reduced to holding just over half the seats.[3] Since 2012, Labour have held over 70% of seats on the council.
The Barnsley Independents formed the principal opposition from 2006 to 2018, when the Conservatives briefly became the second largest party. The Liberal Democrats overtook the Conservatives in 2019 and have formed the principal opposition since.[4]
Prior to this election, Barnsley elected it councillors on a four year cycle, with one councillor elected from each three-member ward in each election. At the most recent election in 2024, 2024, Labour won 17 seats, taking one from the Conservatives, but did not increase their majority due to losing a vacant seat last held by the party to the Liberal Democrats, which won 4 seats.[5] Following boundary changes, the 2026 election will use a new set of ward boundaries.[6]
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