2026 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election

Last updated

2026 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election
County Flag of Greater Manchester.svg
←  2024
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
2027 →
25 out of 75 seats to Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council
38 seats needed for a majority
 Majority partyMinority partyThird party
  David Molyneux.jpg
Leader David Molyneux
Party Labour Ind. Network Reform
Leader's seatInce
Last election6440
Seats before6232
 Fourth partyFifth party
 
Party Conservative Independent
Last election16
Seats before17
Leader of the Council before election

David Molyneux
Labour

Leader of the Council after election

TBD

Ward results

Incumbent councillors seeking re-election in their ward are marked with an asterisk (*). Vote Share changes for Incumbent Councillors are relative to their own result in 2024. For non-incumbent candidates it is relative to their highest result in 2024.

Contents

Abram ward

Local Elections 2026: Abram
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour
Independent
Conservative
Liberal Democrats
Majority
Turnout
Swing

Ashton-in-Makerfield South ward

Local Elections 2026: Ashton-in-Makerfield South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour
Independent
Conservative
Liberal Democrats
Majority
Turnout
Swing

Aspull, New Springs & Whelley ward

Local Elections 2026: Aspull, New Springs & Whelley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour
Conservative
Green
Majority
Turnout
Swing

Astley ward

Local Elections 2026: Astley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour
Ind. Network
Conservative
Majority
Turnout
Swing

Atherton North ward

Local Elections 2026: Atherton North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ind. Network
Labour
Atherton North Independent
Conservative
Majority
Turnout
Swing

Atherton South & Lilford ward

Local Elections 2026: Atherton South & Lilford
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour
Ind. Network
Conservative
Majority
Turnout
Swing

Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North ward

Local Elections 2026: Bryn with Ashton-in-Makerfield North
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent
Labour Margaret Therese Gaffney85934.2Increase2.svg 6.9
Conservative Judith Atherton1435.7Decrease2.svg 1.1
Majority 65325.9Increase2.svg 9.0
Turnout 2,51428.0Increase2.svg 0.6
Independent hold Swing

Douglas ward

Local Elections 2024: Douglas
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Matt Dawber* 1,379 69.7 Increase2.svg 8.5
Green Peter Ernest Jacobs30415.4Decrease2.svg 6.2
Conservative Margaret Atherton29615.0Decrease2.svg 4.7
Majority 1,07554.3Increase2.svg 14.7
Turnout 1,97921.1Increase2.svg 0.9
Labour hold Swing

Golborne & Lowton West ward

Local Elections 2024: Golborne & Lowton West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Susan Gambles* 1,572 63.4 Increase2.svg 6.4
Leigh and Atherton IndependentRichard Andrew Scott42016.9New
Conservative Edward Noel Houlton38715.6Decrease2.svg 4.3
Liberal Democrats Andrew Julian Lee Holland1014.1Decrease2.svg 4.0
Majority 1,15246.5Increase2.svg 9.4
Turnout 2,48026.9Increase2.svg 1.5
Labour hold Swing

Hindley ward

Local Elections 2024: Hindley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Talbot* 1,013 42.4 Decrease2.svg 0.4
Ind. Network Jim Ellis51921.7Decrease2.svg 12.6
Reform James Swift31513.2New
Independent Jordan James Gaskell2018.4New
Independent Dave Culshaw1024.3Decrease2.svg 15.9
Green Oliver Peter Clark974.1New
Conservative Gerard Joseph Houlton893.7Decrease2.svg 4.7
Liberal Democrats John Charles Skipworth542.3Decrease2.svg 5.6
Majority 49420.7Increase2.svg 12.2
Turnout 2,39024.2Increase2.svg 0.5
Labour hold Swing

Hindley Green ward

Local Elections 2024: Hindley Green
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour James Thomas Palmer* 1,260 49.7 Increase2.svg 3.7
Independent Mark Prescott70127.6Increase2.svg 0.1
Reform Ray Peters39215.5New
Conservative Susan Atherton1315.2Decrease2.svg 9.7
Liberal Democrats Gary Skipworth532.1Decrease2.svg 6.6
Majority 55922.1Increase2.svg 3.6
Turnout 2,53727.6Increase2.svg 1.2
Labour hold Swing

Ince ward

Local Elections 2024: Ince
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Independent Tony Whyte 1,018 46.7 New
Labour Janice Sharratt*97044.5Increase2.svg 5.7
Conservative Allan Atherton1557.1Decrease2.svg 6.2
Independent Zoran C. Zok371.7New
Majority 482.2N/A
Turnout 2,18023.2Increase2.svg 0.7
Independent gain from Labour Swing

Leigh Central & Higher Folds ward

Local Elections 2024: Leigh Central & Higher Folds
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Fred Walker* 1,321 52.2 Decrease2.svg 1.2
Leigh Central IndependentJames Edward Morley62624.8Increase2.svg 5.7
Conservative Jean Dickinson29611.7Decrease2.svg 6.2
Green Peter Mulleady2148.5New
Liberal Democrats Stuart John Worthington722.8Decrease2.svg 3.8
Majority 69527.4Decrease2.svg 6.9
Turnout 2,52923.6Increase2.svg 2.0
Labour hold Swing

Leigh South ward

Local Elections 2024: Leigh South
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Charles Rigby* 1,474 51.7 Decrease2.svg 0.8
Leigh South IndependentJayson Allan Hargreaves55619.5New
Conservative Avril Ruth Murphy49517.4Decrease2.svg 11.6
Liberal Democrats Christopher John Noon1926.7Decrease2.svg 11.0
Green Brodie Andrew Prescott1334.7New
Majority 91832.2Increase2.svg 8.7
Turnout 2,85030.0Increase2.svg 1.7
Labour hold Swing

Leigh West ward

Local Elections 2024: Leigh West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sue Greensmith* 1,592 60.6 Increase2.svg 3.0
Leigh West IndependentDavid John Evans47518.1Increase2.svg 2.0
Conservative Marie Elizabeth Cooper31412.0Decrease2.svg 4.8
Green Rachel Harrop2449.3New
Majority 1,11742.5Increase2.svg 1.7
Turnout 2,62523.6Increase2.svg 2.8
Labour hold Swing

Lowton East ward

Local Elections 2024: Lowton East
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Mike Smith 2,179 54.2 Increase2.svg 9.0
Conservative Kathleen Houlton*1,84545.8Decrease2.svg 0.6
Majority 3348.4N/A
Turnout 4,02436.1Increase2.svg 2.1
Labour gain from Conservative Swing

Orrell ward

Local Elections 2024: Orrell
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Anne Collins* 1,601 52.2 Increase2.svg 8.0
Conservative Michael William Winstanley92030.0Decrease2.svg 12.5
Reform Robert F. Kenyon42313.8New
Liberal Democrats Neil Duncan Stevenson1244.0Decrease2.svg 8.5
Majority 68122.2Increase2.svg 20.5
Turnout 3,06832.6Increase2.svg 1.2
Labour hold Swing

Pemberton ward

Local Elections 2024: Pemberton
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Eileen Winifred Rigby* 1,179 59.5 Increase2.svg 11.9
Independent Tony Porter52226.3Decrease2.svg 1.2
Conservative Jean Margaret Peet1708.6Decrease2.svg 10.7
Liberal Democrats David John Burley1115.6Decrease2.svg 11.6
Majority 65733.2Increase2.svg 13.1
Turnout 1,98221.0Increase2.svg 1.4
Labour hold Swing

Shevington with Lower Ground & Moor ward

Local Elections 2024: Shevington with Lower Ground & Moor
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Vicky Galligan* 1,585 51.4 Increase2.svg 9.4
Shevington Independents Part of Wigan IndependentsDebbie Fairhurst68422.2Decrease2.svg 11.3
Conservative Michael Colin Owens50016.2Decrease2.svg 5.4
Liberal Democrats John Peter Burley1775.7Decrease2.svg 7.5
Workers Party Peter Seddon1374.4New
Majority 90129.2Increase2.svg 20.7
Turnout 3,08331.6Decrease2.svg 1.8
Labour hold Swing

Standish with Langtree ward

Local Elections 2024: Standish with Langtree
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Terry Mugan* 1,610 43.0 Increase2.svg 6.5
Standish IndependentsGareth William Fairhurst1,29434.6Increase2.svg 12.4
Conservative Gary Robinson72419.3Decrease2.svg 17.1
Liberal Democrats Donald John Macnamara1173.1New
Majority 3168.4Increase2.svg 8.3
Turnout 3,74532.8Increase2.svg 1.2
Labour hold Swing

Tyldesley & Mosley Common ward

Local Elections 2024: Tyldesley & Mosley Common
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Ind. Network James Anthony Fish* 1,538 52.4 Increase2.svg 13.7
Labour Farai Nhakaniso1,09137.1Decrease2.svg 0.1
Conservative Ashley Mccarrick30810.5Decrease2.svg 14.3
Majority 44715.3Increase2.svg 13.8
Turnout 2,93729.6Increase2.svg 3.5
Ind. Network hold Swing

Wigan Central ward

Local Elections 2024: Wigan Central
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Michael McLoughlin* 1,398 48.2 Decrease2.svg 2.9
Independent Catherine Mary Croston79027.3New
Conservative Paul John Chapman42014.5Decrease2.svg 15.5
Green Lisa Diaz1906.6New
Liberal Democrats Brian Craig Duff Crombie-Fisher1003.5Decrease2.svg 20.5
Majority 60820.9Decrease2.svg 0.2
Turnout 2,89830.8Increase2.svg 1.1
Labour hold Swing

Wigan West ward

Local Elections 2024: Wigan West
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Sheila Rosaleen Ramsdale* 1,639 67.9 Increase2.svg 19.2
Liberal Democrats Stuart David Thomas40416.7Decrease2.svg 14.7
Conservative Marjorie Clayton37215.4Increase2.svg 2.5
Majority 1,23551.2Increase2.svg 33.9
Turnout 2,41524.9Decrease2.svg 0.4
Labour hold Swing

Winstanley ward

Local Elections 2024: Winstanley
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Clive William Morgan* 1,412 57.0 Increase2.svg 3.9
Reform John Carroll49019.8Increase2.svg 1.6
Conservative Margaret Mary Winstanley24910.1Decrease2.svg 13.9
Green John Christopher Logan2018.1New
Liberal Democrats Robert Duncan Stevenson1245.0Decrease2.svg 16.2
Majority 92237.2Increase2.svg 8.1
Turnout 2,47627.8Increase2.svg 1.6
Labour hold Swing

Worsley Mesnes ward

Local Elections 2024: Worsley Mesnes
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Labour Paul David James Molyneux* 1,217 53.9 Increase2.svg 7.9
Reform Keith Andrew Whalley53223.6New
Independent Danny Cooke29813.2Decrease2.svg 16.5
Conservative Adam James Marsh1546.8Decrease2.svg 12.9
Liberal Democrats Vincent Dean Holgate582.6Decrease2.svg 11.8
Majority 68530.3Increase2.svg 14.0
Turnout 2,25925.2Increase2.svg 0.8
Labour hold Swing

The 2026 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council election will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 75 members of Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council in Greater Manchester will be elected.

Background

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974. Labour have formed majority administrations for the entirety of its existence. [1] The Conservatives formed the principal opposition until 1982, when they were overtaken by the SDP–Liberal Alliance. [2] From 2003 to 2008 the Community Action Party were the second largest party, before being overtaken by the Conservatives. [3] More recently, independents and the Independent Network have served as the principal opposition to Labour. Two independent groups exist; the Community Independent Alliance (consisting of the Independent Network and two independents) and Independents Together (consisting of four councillors elected as independents). The 2024 election saw Labour remain on 64 seats, losing one seat to an independent but gaining one from the Conservatives. [4]

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. [5] Labour will be defending 22 seats, independents will be defending 1, the Conservatives will be defending 1, and the Independent Network will be defending 1.

Council composition

After 2024 electionBefore 2026 election
PartySeatsPartySeats
Labour 64 Labour 62
Ind. Network 4 [a] Ind. Network 3 [a]
Reform 0 Reform 2
Conservative 1 Conservative 1
Independent 6 [b] Independent 7 [b]

Changes 2024–2026:

References

  1. 1 2 Sit as part of the Community Independent Alliance group.
  2. 1 2 Bob Brierley, Steve Jones, Scarlett Myler, and Sylvia Wilkinson sit as part of the Independents Together group. Maureen O'Bern and Tony Whyte sit as part of the Community Independent Alliance group. Pat Draper is not part of a grouping.
  1. ↑ "BBC News - Election 2011 - England council elections - Tameside". BBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  2. ↑ "Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  3. ↑ MacNamara, Helen (23 June 2004). "Pier pressure". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  4. ↑ Morgan, William; Topping, Stephen (2 May 2024). "Wigan council local election 2024 results in full". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  5. ↑ The Wigan (Electoral Changes) Order 2022.
  6. ↑ Clarke, Gaynor (29 May 2024). "By-election could be held for Wigan Council seat as former mayor hands in resignation". Wigan Today. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Leigh South Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Jackson, Nick (27 February 2025). "Councillor quits Labour to become Independent over 'lies and broken promises'". Leigh Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Jones, Sian (1 August 2025). "'He was Mr Likeable through and through'- Tributes pour in for popular Wigan councillor who died suddenly". Wigan Today. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Wigan Central Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  11. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "Nine out of ten changes". LocalCouncils.co.uk.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.