2026 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council election

Last updated
2026 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council election
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←  2024
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
2027 →
20 out of 60 seats to Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
31 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority partyThird party
 
LeaderArooj ShahHoward Sykes
Party Labour Liberal Democrats Oldham Group Party
Leader's seatSt Mary'sShaw
Last election27 seats, 29.1%9 seats, 14.2%Not formed
Seats before2799
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
LeaderMax WoodvineBrian Hobin
Party Conservative Failsworth Independent Party Reform
Leader's seatSaddleworth SouthFailsworth East
Last election8 seats, 13.1%2 seats, 1.7%0 seats, 1.1%
Seats before623
Leader before election

Arooj Shah
Labour

Leader after election

TBD

The 2026 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council election will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 60 members of Oldham Council in Greater Manchester will be elected.

Contents

Following the 2024 election, Oldham fell into no overall control. A minority Labour administration was formed which continues to govern.

Background

Labour have traditionally formed the administration of Oldham Council. From its creation in 1973 to 2024, Labour have formed majority administrations apart from the periods between 1994 and 1995, 2000 and 2003 (when the Liberal Democrats became the largest single party), and 2007 and 2011 (having again been overtaken by the Liberal Democrats). [1]

The 2024 election saw Labour lose four seats, and with it their majority on the council. Two independent councillors (both part of the Independent Group on the council) supported the incumbent Labour leader Arooj Shah in a confidence vote, allowing the Labour administration to continue as a minority. [2] Two other groupings of independents existed following the election; the Oldham Group (consisting of ex-Conservatives and anti-Labour independents) [3] and the Royton Independents (comprising of the two independent councillors for Royton South). The Oldham Group has since registered as a political party. [4]

New ward boundaries were used for the 2023 election – this election will be for the councillors who placed second in each of the twenty three-member wards. [5] Labour will be defending eleven seats, the Liberal Democrats will be defending four, the Conservatives will be defending three, independents will be defending one, and the Failsworth Independent Party will be defending one.

Council composition

After 2024 electionBefore 2026 election
PartySeatsPartySeats
Labour 27 Labour 27
Liberal Democrats 9 Liberal Democrats 9
The Oldham Group PartyN/AThe Oldham Group Party9
Conservative 8 Conservative 6
Reform 0 Reform 3
Failsworth Independent Party 2 Failsworth Independent Party 2
Independent 14 Independent 4

Changes 2024–2026:

References

    1. ↑ "Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
    2. ↑ "Labour narrowly retain control of Oldham Council". BBC News. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
    3. ↑ Hall, Charlotte (25 September 2025). "Councillors in The Oldham Group join forces with George Galloway for election". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
    4. ↑ "The Oldham Group Party". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
    5. ↑ The Oldham (Electoral Changes) Order 2022
    6. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "North Devon Liberals get Instow". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
    7. ↑ "Reform UK welcomes THREE councillors on Oldham Council". Oldham Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
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