2026 Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council election

Last updated
2026 Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council election
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←  2024
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
2027 →
22 out of 66 seats to Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
34 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority partyThird party
 
LeaderMarion Atkinson John Pugh Mike Prendergast
Party Labour Liberal Democrats Conservative
Leader's seatMolyneuxDukesDukes
Last election49 seats, 54.0% [a] 9 seats, 16.7%4 seats, 14.7%
Seats before5193
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
 
Party Green Reform Independent
Last election1 seat, 8.8%0 seats, 0.2%2 seats, 0.4%
Seats before111
Leader of the Council before election

Marion Atkinson
Labour

Leader of the Council after election

TBD

The 2026 Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council election will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 45 members of Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council in Merseyside will be elected.

Contents

Background

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974. The Conservatives controlled the council from its creation until 1984, when the council fell into no overall control. [1] Labour became the largest party in 1988 but did not form their first majority administration until 24 years later. [2] The Liberal Democrats briefly became the largest party between 2000 and 2002, [3] and again for the more prolonged period between 2004 and 2011. [4] Labour have formed majority administrations since 2012 with the Liberal Democrats serving as the principal opposition (aside from 2021 which saw the Conservatives hold an equal number of seats).

In the most recent election, Labour made no net gains or losses, winning a seat from the Conservatives but also losing a seat to the Green Party and giving the Greens their first seat on the council. [5] The Liberal Democrats also held a seat gained through a defection from the Conservatives. [6]

The seats up for election this year were last contested in 2022. In that election, Labour won 17 seats (up 1), the Conservatives won 3 seats (down 1), and the Liberal Democrats won 2 seats (steady).

Council composition

After 2024 electionBefore 2026 election
PartySeatsPartySeats
Labour 49 Labour 51
Liberal Democrats 9 Liberal Democrats 9
Conservative 4 Conservative 3
Green 1 Green 1
Reform 0 Reform 1
Independent 2 Independent 1
Vacant1Vacant0

Changes 2024–2026:

References

  1. ↑ Councillor Paula Spencer died on 27 March 2024. This vacancy was filled in a by-election on 20 June 2024.
  1. ↑ "BBC News - Election 2011 - England council elections - Sefton". BBC News. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "Sefton Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  3. ↑ "Vote 2002 - Sefton". BBC News. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  4. ↑ Hall, Sarah (12 June 2004). "Best ever results just a start, says Kennedy". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Haygarth, Dan; Barnes, Edward; Westwood, Katie; Jessett, Elliot; Thorp, Liam (2 May 2024). "Sefton Council local elections 2024 result in full". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  6. ↑ Rand, Lisa (12 May 2023). "Former Sefton conservative councillor joins Liberal Democrats". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "MEETING HELD AT THE TOWN HALL, SOUTHPORT ON THURSDAY 18 APRIL 2024" (PDF). Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Kingstanding still". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — St Oswald Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Linacre Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  11. ↑ Thorp, Liam (4 October 2024). "Shamed pervert councillor was governor at primary school". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  12. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Double SNP win in Dundee". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Litherland Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  14. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Reform gets Broads support". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Blundellsands Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  16. ↑ Dukes, Emma (21 August 2025). "Councillor becomes Sefton's first to join Reform UK". LiverpoolWorld. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
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