2026 Salford City Council election

Last updated
2026 Salford City Council election
County Flag of Greater Manchester.svg
←  2024
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
2027 →
21 out of 60 seats to Salford City Council
31 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority partyThird party
 
Leader Paul Dennett Bob ClarkePaul Heilbron
Party Labour Conservative Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Mayor Boothstown and EllenbrookQuays
Last election50 seats, 58.3%7 seats, 20.7%2 seats, 5.6%
Seats before47 [a] 72
 Fourth partyFifth party
 
Party Your Independent
Last electionNot formed1 seat, 1.2%
Seats before12
Council control before election

Labour

Council control after election

TBD

The 2026 Salford City 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 Salford City Council in Greater Manchester will be elected, plus a second seat in Blackfriars and Trinity on account of a vacancy.

Contents

Background

Salford City Council was created in 1974. The city has always voted strongly for Labour. The party has governed in majority since the creation of the council, and has held at least 60% of the council's seats for the entirety of the 21st century. [1] [2] The Conservatives have formed the principal opposition since 2008; prior to this, the Liberal Democrats formed the principal opposition from 1996 to 2004, and held an equal number of seats as the Conservatives from 2004 to 2008.

The 2024 election saw Labour increase their majority despite losing a seat to the Liberal Democrats, by taking one seat from the Conservatives and one from an independent. [3] The 20 seats up for election in 2026 were last contested in 2022. In that election, Labour won 15 seats (down 3), the Conservatives won 2 (up 1), the Liberal Democrats won 2 (up 1), and independents won 1 (up 1). [4] The vacant seat in Blackfriars and Trinity was last held by Labour.

Council composition

After 2024 electionBefore 2026 election
PartySeatsPartySeats
Labour 50 Labour 47
Conservative 7 Conservative 7
Liberal Democrats 2 Liberal Democrats 2
Your Not formed Your 1
Independent 1 Independent 2
VacantN/AVacant1

Changes 2024–2026:

References

  1. ↑ Does not include the directly elected Mayor of Salford.
  2. ↑ Part of the Independent Democratic Socialist group.
  1. ↑ "Salford City Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "BBC News - Election 2011 - England council elections - Salford". BBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Labour retains Salford City Council". BBC News. 5 May 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Salford result - Local Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Carey, Declan (5 September 2024). "Labour councillor quits months after winning huge majority". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  6. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Eccles Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  7. ↑ Mulligan, Alfie (24 March 2025). "Veteran Salford councillor resigns from the Labour Party". Salford Now. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Keeling, Neal (10 May 2025). "Another high-profile resignation from Labour party by Salford councillor". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Carey, Declan (12 November 2025). "Labour councillor steps down - with seat to stay vacant until May". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Mckeon-Devaney, India (2 December 2025). "Veteran Salford councillor joins Your Party". Salford Now. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
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