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Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom

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This article documents the strengths of political parties in the 317 local authorities of England,[1] 32 local authorities of Scotland,[2] 22 principal councils of Wales[3] and 11 local councils of Northern Ireland.[4]

England's 317 local authorities are made up of: 32 London borough councils, 21 county councils and 164 district councils (two tiers of local government which share responsibility for the same physical area), 36 metropolitan district councils, 62 unitary authorities, and 2 sui generis authorities, the City of London Corporation and Council of the Isles of Scilly.[1]

This article does not cover the Greater London Authority or the 10 combined authorities of England (and their respective mayors).[1] It also doesn't cover the 35 police and crime commissioners or the four police, fire and crime commissioners in England and Wales.[5] And it also doesn't include the thousands of parish/local councils of England,[6] community councils of Scotland[7] and community councils of Wales.[3]

English local authorities have a choice of executive arrangements out of a mayor and cabinet executive, a leader and cabinet executive, a committee system or alternative arrangements approved by the Secretary of State.[1] Councils in England[1] and Northern Ireland[8] run on four year cycles, while councils in Scotland[9] and, from 2022, in Wales[10] run on five year cycles. An English local authority's councillors may be elected all at once, by halves or by thirds.[1] Because of this disparate system, various local elections take place every year, but changes in party representation arise frequently regardless due to resignations, deaths, by-elections, co-options and changes of affiliation.

Summary

[edit]

Total number of councillors by political party

[edit]

Last full update: 2 May 2024[11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

Party Total[a] England[b] Wales[c] Scotland[d] Northern Ireland[e]
Labour
6,562 / 18,646
5,610 526 282
Conservative
5,148 / 19,228
4,824 111 213 0
Liberal Democrats
3,095 / 18,646
2,909 68 87
Green (E&W)
842 / 17,546
757 9
SNP
427 / 1,227
453
Plaid Cymru
205 / 1,231
200
Sinn Féin
144 / 462
144
DUP
121 / 462
121
Alliance
67 / 462
67
Ashfield Independents
42 / 101
42
Ulster Unionist
54 / 462
54
SDLP
37 / 462
37
Scottish Greens
36 / 1,227
36
Canvey Island Independents
34 / 116
34
Aspire
24 / 45
24
Havering Residents Association
23 / 55
23
Reform UK
28 / 18,646
10 0 0
TUV
10 / 462
10
Mebyon Kernow
5 / 87
5
Green (NI)
5 / 462
5
Liberal
5 / 18,646
5 0 0
Chislehurst Matters
3 / 3
3
Yorkshire
3 / 1,139
3
Merton Park Residents Association
2 / 57
2
People Before Profit
2 / 462
2
SDP
2 / 18,646
2 0 0
PUP
1 / 462
1
Other parties and independents
2,316 / 19,228
1638 318 188 21
Vacancies 55 45 4 3 0
Total 19,228 16,249 1,236 1,226 462

Political control of local government in England

[edit]

The table below shows who has political control of each of the 21 non-metropolitan county councils (NMC), the 62 unitary authorities (UA), the 36 metropolitan districts (MD), the 32 London boroughs (LB) as well as the 2 sui generis entities: the City of London (CL) and the Isles of Scilly (IS). In total, 153 local government councils.

The table differentiates between councils fully controlled by one party and others where a certain party leads a coalition that governs the council. All parties apart from the Conservatives (CON), Labour (LAB) and Liberal Democrats (LDM); as well as independents, are grouped in the category: OTHER.

Map showing political control of the 152 Local authorities in England (doesn't show non-metropolitan districts or the Isles of Scilly). Bright colours represents control of a single party, pastel colours represent the leading party in a coalition government. Blue is for CON, red for LAB, orange for LDM, green for GRN and grey for IND/OTHER.
Party NMC UA + IS MD LB + CL Total no. of councils % of all councils
CON control 20 25 4 6 56 36.8
CON-led coalition 1 1 0.7
CON 20 27 4 6 57 37.5
LAB control 15 30 21 65 42.8
LAB-led coalition 1 2 1 4 2.6
LAB 1 16 31 21 69 45.4
LDM control 1 3 1 3 8 5.3
LDM-led coalition 1 4 5 3.3
LDM 2 7 1 3 13 8.6
OTHER control 4 2 6 3.9
OTHER-led coalition 1 4 1 6 3.9
OTHER 1 8 3 12 7.9
LAB + GRN tie 1 1 0.7
Total 24 59 36 33 152 100.0

England: London borough councils

[edit]
The largest party in each borough council. Red denotes the Labour Party; blue denotes the Conservatives; yellow denotes the Liberal Democrats; and grey denotes independent candidates.

Last full update: 22 June 2022

London borough councils Control Councillors Cycle Ref.
Total LAB CON LDM GRN Other Vacant
Barking and Dagenham Leader and cabinet LAB 51 50 1 All URL OCDUK
Barnet Leader and cabinet LAB 63 40 21 2 All URL OCDUK
Bexley Leader and cabinet CON 45 12 32 1 All URL OCDUK
Brent Leader and cabinet LAB 57 49 5 3 All URL OCDUK
Bromley Leader and cabinet CON 58 12 34 5 7 All URL OCDUK
Camden Leader and cabinet LAB 55 46 2 5 1 All URL OCDUK
Croydon Mayor and cabinet CON NOC 71 34 33 1 2 All URL OCDUK
Ealing Leader and cabinet LAB 70 59 5 6 All URL OCDUK
Enfield Leader and cabinet LAB 63 37 25 1 All URL OCDUK
Greenwich Leader and cabinet LAB 55 52 3 All URL OCDUK
Hackney Mayor and cabinet LAB LAB 57 49 6 2 All URL OCDUK
Hammersmith and Fulham Leader and cabinet LAB 50 39 10 1 All URL OCDUK
Haringey Leader and cabinet LAB 57 46 7 4 All URL OCDUK
Harrow Leader and cabinet CON 55 23 31 1 All URL OCDUK
Havering Leader and cabinet IND+LAB 55 9 16 30 All URL OCDUK
Hillingdon Leader and cabinet CON 53 22 30 1 All URL OCDUK
Hounslow Leader and cabinet LAB 62 50 9 2 All URL OCDUK
Islington Leader and cabinet LAB 51 46 3 2 All URL OCDUK
Kensington and Chelsea Leader and cabinet CON 50 8 36 2 1 3 All URL OCDUK
Kingston upon Thames Leader and cabinet LDM 48 2 43 3 All URL OCDUK
Lambeth Leader and cabinet LAB 63 58 3 2 All URL OCDUK
Lewisham Mayor and cabinet LAB LAB 54 54 All URL OCDUK
Merton Leader and cabinet LAB 57 30 7 17 3 All URL OCDUK
Newham Mayor and cabinet LAB LAB 66 61 2 4 All URL OCDUK
Redbridge Leader and cabinet LAB 63 56 5 2 All URL OCDUK
Richmond upon Thames Leader and cabinet LDM 54 49 5 All URL OCDUK
Southwark Leader and cabinet LAB 63 52 11 All URL OCDUK
Sutton Committee system[18] LDM 54 2 21 29 3 All URL OCDUK
Tower Hamlets Mayor and cabinet IND IND 45 18 1 1 26 All URL OCDUK
Waltham Forest Leader and cabinet LAB 60 46 13 1 All URL OCDUK
Wandsworth Leader and cabinet LAB 58 34 23 1 All URL OCDUK
Westminster Leader and cabinet LAB 54 31 23 All URL OCDUK

England: metropolitan district councils

[edit]

Last full update: 5 May 2024

Metropolitan district council Control Councillors Cycle Ref.
Total LAB CON LDM GRN Other Vacant
Barnsley Leader and cabinet LAB 63 48 1 11 3 Thirds URL OCDUK
Birmingham Leader and cabinet LAB 101 65 22 12 2 All URL OCDUK
Bolton Leader and cabinet LAB (minority) 60 26 15 6 1 12 Thirds URL OCDUK
Bradford Leader and cabinet LAB 90 49 13 5 10 13 Thirds URL OCDUK
Bury Leader and cabinet LAB 51 32 10 9 Thirds URL OCDUK
Calderdale Leader and cabinet LAB 51 29 11 6 3 2 Thirds URL OCDUK
Coventry Leader and cabinet LAB 54 39 12 2 Thirds URL OCDUK
Doncaster Mayor and cabinet LAB LAB 55 41 11 3 All URL OCDUK
Dudley Leader and cabinet NOC 72 34 34 3 1 Thirds URL OCDUK
Gateshead Leader and cabinet LAB 66 48 18 Thirds URL OCDUK
Kirklees Leader and cabinet NOC 69 31 15 10 4 9 Thirds URL OCDUK
Knowsley Leader and cabinet LAB 45 31 3 7 4 Thirds URL OCDUK
Leeds Leader and cabinet LAB 99 61 15 6 5 12 Thirds URL OCDUK
Liverpool Leader and cabinet LAB LAB 85 61 15 3 6 Thirds URL OCDUK
Manchester Leader and cabinet LAB 96 87 4 3 2 Thirds URL OCDUK
Newcastle upon Tyne Leader and cabinet LAB 78 45 1 23 2 7 Thirds URL OCDUK
North Tyneside Mayor and cabinet LAB LAB 60 51 8 1 Thirds URL OCDUK
Oldham Leader and cabinet NOC 60 27 8 9 16 Thirds URL OCDUK
Rochdale Leader and cabinet LAB 60 44 9 3 4 Thirds URL OCDUK
Rotherham Leader and cabinet LAB 59 33 13 3 10 All URL OCDUK
Salford Mayor and cabinet LAB 60 50 7 2 1 All URL OCDUK
Sandwell Leader and cabinet LAB 72 64 5 3 Thirds URL OCDUK
Sefton Leader and cabinet LAB 66 49 4 9 1 2 Thirds URL OCDUK
Sheffield Committee system NOC 84 35 27 14 8 Thirds URL OCDUK
Solihull Leader and cabinet CON 51 1 30 8 10 2 Thirds URL OCDUK
South Tyneside Leader and cabinet LAB 54 28 11 15 Thirds URL OCDUK
St Helens Leader and cabinet LAB 48 29 2 4 6 7 All URL OCDUK
Stockport Leader and cabinet LDM (minority) 63 22 31 3 7 Thirds URL OCDUK
Sunderland Leader and cabinet LAB 75 53 10 12 Thirds URL OCDUK
Tameside Leader and cabinet LAB 57 48 7 2 Thirds URL OCDUK
Trafford Leader and cabinet LAB 63 43 8 6 6 Thirds URL OCDUK
Wakefield Leader and cabinet LAB 63 56 3 3 1 Thirds URL OCDUK
Walsall Leader and cabinet CON 60 14 37 9 Thirds URL OCDUK
Wigan Leader and cabinet LAB 75 64 1 10 Thirds URL OCDUK
Wirral Committee system LAB (minority) 66 29 17 6 14 Thirds URL OCDUK
Wolverhampton Leader and cabinet LAB 60 47 12 1 Thirds URL OCDUK

England: two-tier county and district councils

[edit]

County councils

[edit]

Last full update: 14 May 2023

County council Control Councillors Cycle Ref.
Total CON LDM LAB GRN Other Vacant
Cambridgeshire Committee LDM+LAB+IND 61 22 23 9 7 All URL OCDUK
Derbyshire Leader and cabinet CON 64 41 4 16 1 2 All URL OCDUK
Devon Leader and cabinet CON 60 38 9 6 2 5 All URL OCDUK
East Sussex Leader and cabinet CON 50 25 12 5 5 3 All URL OCDUK
Essex Leader and cabinet CON 75 51 8 5 1 9 1 All URL OCDUK
Gloucestershire Leader and cabinet CON 53 27 16 5 4 1 All URL OCDUK
Hampshire Leader and cabinet CON 78 52 18 3 1 4 All URL OCDUK
Hertfordshire Leader and cabinet CON 78 45 24 7 1 1 All URL OCDUK
Kent Leader and cabinet CON 81 59 6 7 5 4 All URL OCDUK
Lancashire Leader and cabinet CON 84 48 2 28 2 4 All URL OCDUK
Leicestershire Leader and cabinet CON 55 41 10 4 All URL OCDUK
Lincolnshire Leader and cabinet CON 70 54 3 4 9 All URL OCDUK
Norfolk Leader and cabinet CON 84 54 11 10 4 5 All URL OCDUK
Nottinghamshire Leader and cabinet CON 66 35 15 16 All URL OCDUK
Oxfordshire Leader and cabinet LDM/GRN[c 1]+LAB 63 22 19[c 2] 14 3[c 3] 4 1 All URL OCDUK
Staffordshire Leader and cabinet CON 62 55 5 2 All URL OCDUK
Suffolk Leader and cabinet CON 75 49 5 5 10 3 All URL OCDUK
Surrey Leader and cabinet CON 81 45 16 2 2 16 All URL OCDUK
Warwickshire Leader and cabinet CON 57 42 5 6 3 1 All URL OCDUK
West Sussex Leader and cabinet CON 70 46 11 9 1 3 1 All URL OCDUK
Worcestershire Leader and cabinet CON 57 41 3 4 5 3 All URL OCDUK
  1. ^ The Liberal Democrat and Green Party councillors formed a single group, the Liberal Democrat Green Alliance, in advance of wider coalition negotiations. (See: "Conservative/Labour coalition proposed for Oxfordshire County Council". Oxford Mail. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.)
  2. ^ The Liberal Democrat and Green Party councillors formed a single group, the Liberal Democrat Green Alliance, in advance of wider coalition negotiations. (See: "Conservative/Labour coalition proposed for Oxfordshire County Council". Oxford Mail. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.)
  3. ^ The Liberal Democrat and Green Party councillors formed a single group, the Liberal Democrat Green Alliance, in advance of wider coalition negotiations. (See: "Conservative/Labour coalition proposed for Oxfordshire County Council". Oxford Mail. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.)

District councils

[edit]

Last full update: 11 June 2022

District council County council Control Councillors Cycle Ref.
Total CON LDM LAB GRN Other Vacant
Adur West Sussex Leader and cabinet LAB 29 7 0 17 2 3 0 Halves URL OCDUK
Amber Valley Derbyshire Leader and cabinet LAB 42 8 1 26 5 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Arun West Sussex Committee system NOC 54 19 14 8 6 7 0 All URL OCDUK
Ashfield Nottinghamshire Leader and cabinet IND 35 2 0 1 0 32 0 All URLOCDUK
Ashford Kent Leader and cabinet NOC 47 17 0 10 9 11 0 All URL OCDUK
Babergh Suffolk Alternative arrangements NOC 32 7 5 1 10 9 0 URL OCDUK
Basildon Essex Leader and cabinet NOC 42 13 0 19 0 10 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Basingstoke and Deane Hampshire Leader and cabinet NOC 54 15 11 11 2 15 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Bassetlaw Nottinghamshire Leader and cabinet LAB 48 7 0 36 0 5 0 All URL OCDUK
Blaby Leicestershire Leader and cabinet CON 36 19 9 6 2 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Bolsover Derbyshire Leader and cabinet LAB 37 2 0 30 0 5 0 All URL OCDUK
Boston Lincolnshire Leader and cabinet IND 30 5 1 0 0 24 0 All URL OCDUK
Braintree Essex Leader and cabinet CON 49 26 0 10 4 9 0 All URL OCDUK
Breckland Norfolk Leader and cabinet CON 49 31 0 12 1 5 0 All URL OCDUK
Brentwood Essex Alternative arrangements NOC 39 19 17 3 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Broadland Norfolk Leader and cabinet NOC 47 22 14 7 4 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Bromsgrove Worcestershire Leader and cabinet NOC 31 11 6 6 0 8 0 All URL OCDUK
Broxbourne Hertfordshire Leader and cabinet CON 30 27 0 3 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Broxtowe Nottinghamshire Committee system LAB 44 10 3 26 0 5 0 All URL OCDUK
Burnley Lancashire Leader and cabinet NOC 45 8 7 15 5 10 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Cambridge Cambridgeshire Leader and cabinet LAB 42 1 10 26 5 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Cannock Chase Staffordshire Leader and cabinet LAB 36 10 0 21 5 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Canterbury Kent Committee system NOC 39 8 9 18 4 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Castle Point Essex Leader and cabinet IND 39 0 0 0 0 39 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Charnwood Leicestershire Leader and cabinet LAB (minority) 52 23 0 20 7 1 1 All URL OCDUK
Chelmsford Essex Leader and cabinet LDM 57 19 33 0 0 5 0 All URL OCDUK
Cheltenham Gloucestershire Leader and cabinet LDM 40 0 36 0 3 1 0 Halves URL OCDUK
Cherwell Oxfordshire Leader and cabinet NOC 48 11 17 13 4 3 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Chesterfield Derbyshire Leader and cabinet LAB 40 0 11 29 0 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Chichester West Sussex Leader and cabinet LDM 36 5 25 0 2 4 0 All URL OCDUK
Chorley Lancashire Leader and cabinet LAB 42 3 0 39 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Colchester Essex Leader and cabinet LDM (minority) 51 19 14 14 3 1 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Cotswold Gloucestershire Leader and cabinet LDM 34 9 21 0 2 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Crawley West Sussex Leader and cabinet LAB 36 11 0 24 0 1 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Dacorum Hertfordshire Leader and cabinet LDM (minority) 51 17 18 4 0 12 0 All URL OCDUK
Dartford Kent Leader and cabinet CON 42 29 0 10 1 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Derbyshire Dales Derbyshire Alternative arrangements NOC 34 10 12 7 3 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Dover Kent Leader and cabinet LAB 32 14 0 17 0 1 0 All URL OCDUK
East Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire Alternative arrangements CON (minority) 28 14 13 0 0 1 0 All URL OCDUK
East Devon Devon Leader and cabinet NOC 60 15 18 1 2 24 0 All URL OCDUK
East Hampshire Hampshire Leader and cabinet NOC 43 19 14 1 2 7 0 All URL OCDUK
East Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Leader and cabinet NOC 50 16 10 5 17 2 0 All URL OCDUK
East Lindsey Lincolnshire Leader and cabinet CON (minority) 55 25 1 6 1 22 0 All URL OCDUK
East Staffordshire Staffordshire Leader and cabinet LAB 37 15 0 21 0 1 0 All URL OCDUK
East Suffolk Suffolk NOC 55 15 10 12 16 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Eastbourne East Sussex Leader and cabinet LDM 27 8 19 0 0 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Eastleigh Hampshire Leader and cabinet LDM 39 1 35 0 0 3 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Elmbridge Surrey Leader and cabinet NOC 48 11 21 0 0 16 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Epping Forest Essex Leader and cabinet CON 54 28 7 1 1 17 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Epsom and Ewell Surrey Alternative arrangements IND 38 2 4 3 0 26 1 All URL OCDUK
Erewash Derbyshire Leader and cabinet LAB 47 16 1 29 1 0 All URL OCDUK
Exeter Devon Leader and cabinet LAB 39 3 4 24 7 1 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Fareham Hampshire Leader and cabinet CON 31 22 8 1 0 1 0 Halves URL OCDUK
Fenland Cambridgeshire Leader and cabinet CON 43 35 2 0 0 6 0 All URL OCDUK
Folkestone and Hythe Kent Leader and cabinet NOC 30 5 2 10 11 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Forest of Dean Gloucestershire Leader and cabinet GRN (minority) 38 5 3 5 15 10 0 All URL OCDUK
Fylde Lancashire Leader and cabinet CON 37 20 2 2 0 13 0 All URL OCDUK
Gedling Nottinghamshire Leader and cabinet LAB 41 10 4 26 0 1 0 All URL OCDUK
Gloucester Gloucestershire Leader and cabinet LDM (minority) 39 11 17 7 0 4 0 All URL OCDUK
Gosport Hampshire Alternative arrangements LDM 28 10 15 2 0 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Gravesham Kent Leader and cabinet LAB 39 17 0 22 0 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Great Yarmouth Norfolk Leader and cabinet CON (minority) 39 19 0 18 0 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Guildford Surrey Leader and cabinet LDM 48 10 25 3 0 10 1 All URL OCDUK
Harborough Leicestershire Leader and cabinet NOC 34 15 13 3 3 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Harlow Essex Alternative arrangements CON 33 17 0 16 0 0 1 Thirds URL OCDUK
Hart Hampshire Leader and cabinet NOC 33 9 12 0 0 12 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Hastings East Sussex Leader and cabinet NOC 32 5 0 9 12 6 0 Halves URL OCDUK
Havant Hampshire Leader and cabinet NOC 36 13 7 10 4 2 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Hertsmere Hertfordshire Leader and cabinet NOC 39 16 9 14 0 0 0 All URL OCDUK
High Peak Derbyshire Leader and cabinet LAB 43 10 1 29 2 1 0 All URL OCDUK
Hinckley and Bosworth Leicestershire Leader and cabinet LDM 34 9 23 1 0 1 0 All URL OCDUK
Horsham West Sussex Leader and cabinet LDM 48 12 27 0 9 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Huntingdonshire Cambridgeshire Leader and cabinet NOC 52 19 11 4 1 17 0 All URL OCDUK
Hyndburn Lancashire Leader and cabinet LAB 35 11 0 22 1 1 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Ipswich Suffolk Leader and cabinet LAB 48 7 3 38 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
King's Lynn and West Norfolk Norfolk Leader and cabinet NOC 55 21 3 9 1 21 0 All URL OCDUK
Lancaster Lancashire Leader and cabinet NOC 61 5 7 21 23 5 0 All URL OCDUK
Lewes East Sussex Leader and cabinet NOC 41 0 15 8 16 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Lichfield Staffordshire Leader and cabinet CON (minority) 47 21 7 17 0 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Lincoln Lincolnshire Leader and cabinet LAB 33 5 5 23 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Maidstone Kent Leader and cabinet NOC 49 13 12 6 10 8 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Maldon Essex Leader and cabinet NOC 31 10 6 1 0 14 0 All URL OCDUK
Malvern Hills Worcestershire Leader and cabinet NOC 31 7 3 1 7 13 0 All URL OCDUK
Mansfield Nottinghamshire Mayor and cabinet LAB LAB 36 4 0 26 0 6 0 All URL OCDUK
Melton Leicestershire Alternative arrangements NOC 28 10 1 6 0 11 0 All URL OCDUK
Mid Devon Devon Leader and cabinet LDM 42 3 35 0 3 1 0 All URL OCDUK
Mid Suffolk Suffolk Leader and cabinet GRN 34 7 4 0 23 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Mid Sussex West Sussex Leader and cabinet NOC 48 18 20 1 4 5 0 All URL OCDUK
Mole Valley Surrey Leader and cabinet LDM 39 2 31 0 0 6 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
New Forest Hampshire Leader and cabinet CON 48 25 14 1 3 5 0 All URL OCDUK
Newark and Sherwood Nottinghamshire Leader and cabinet NOC 39 14 3 10 2 10 1 All URL OCDUK
Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire Leader and cabinet CON 44 25 0 18 0 1 0 All URL OCDUK
North Devon Devon Leader and cabinet LDM 42 7 22 0 3 10 0 All URL OCDUK
North East Derbyshire Derbyshire Leader and cabinet LAB 53 19 3 27 1 3 0 All URL OCDUK
North Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Leader and cabinet LAB (minority) 51 7 19 25 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
North Kesteven Lincolnshire Leader and cabinet CON 43 24 1 2 0 16 0 All URL OCDUK
North Norfolk Norfolk Leader and cabinet LDM 40 13 25 0 0 2 0 All URL OCDUK
North Warwickshire Warwickshire Alternative arrangements CON (minority) 35 17 0 15 0 3 1 All URL OCDUK
North West Leicestershire Leicestershire Leader and cabinet NOC 38 12 5 17 0 4 0 All URL OCDUK
Norwich Norfolk Leader and cabinet NOC 39 0 3 19 15 2 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Nuneaton and Bedworth Warwickshire Leader and cabinet LAB 38 16 0 20 2 0 0 Halves URL OCDUK
Oadby and Wigston Leicestershire Alternative arrangements LDM 26 7 18 0 0 1 0 All URL OCDUK
Oxford Oxfordshire Leader and cabinet LAB (minority) 48 0 9 20 8 11 0 Halves URL OCDUK
Pendle[19] Lancashire Leader and cabinet NOC 33 13 8 0 0 12 1 Thirds URL OCDUK
Preston Lancashire Leader and cabinet LAB 48 6 13 29 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Redditch Worcestershire Leader and cabinet LAB 27 5 0 20 1 1 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Reigate and Banstead Surrey Leader and cabinet CON (minority) 45 19 4 2 13 7 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Ribble Valley Lancashire Alternative arrangements CON (minority) 40 17 5 9 2 7 0 All URL OCDUK
Rochford Essex Leader and cabinet NOC 39 10 11 0 1 17 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Rossendale Lancashire Leader and cabinet LAB 30 5 0 20 3 2 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Rother East Sussex Leader and cabinet NOC 38 10 7 8 3 10 0 All URL OCDUK
Rugby Warwickshire Leader and cabinet LAB (minority) 42 17 10 15 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Runnymede Surrey Alternative arrangements NOC 41 13 6 8 3 11 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Rushcliffe Nottinghamshire Leader and cabinet CON 44 25 1 9 2 7 0 All URL OCDUK
Rushmoor Hampshire Leader and cabinet LAB 39 15 3 20 0 1 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Sevenoaks Kent Leader and cabinet CON 54 33 14 0 4 3 0 All URL OCDUK
South Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire Leader and cabinet LDM 45 9 34 0 0 2 0 All URL OCDUK
South Derbyshire Derbyshire Alternative arrangements LAB 36 11 2 22 0 1 0 All URL OCDUK
South Hams Devon Leader and cabinet LDM 31 7 19 1 3 1 0 All URL OCDUK
South Holland Lincolnshire Leader and cabinet CON 37 20 0 0 0 17 0 All URL OCDUK
South Kesteven Lincolnshire Leader and cabinet NOC 56 22 4 2 3 25 0 All URL OCDUK
South Norfolk Norfolk Leader and cabinet NOC 46 23 11 9 1 2 0 All URL OCDUK
South Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Leader and cabinet LDM 36 1 21 3 8 3 0 All URL OCDUK
South Ribble Lancashire Leader and cabinet LAB 50 15 5 28 0 2 0 All URL OCDUK
South Staffordshire Staffordshire Leader and cabinet CON 42 29 4 2 2 5 1 All URL OCDUK
Spelthorne Surrey Leader and cabinet NOC 39 16 9 7 2 5 0 All URL OCDUK
St Albans Hertfordshire Leader and cabinet LDM 56 4 46 2 3 1 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Stafford Staffordshire Leader and cabinet NOC 40 15 1 12 5 7 0 All URL OCDUK
Staffordshire Moorlands Staffordshire Leader and cabinet LAB (minority) 56 22 1 23 1 9 0 All URL OCDUK
Stevenage Hertfordshire Leader and cabinet LAB 39 1 6 32 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Stratford-on-Avon Warwickshire Leader and cabinet LDM 36 11 25 0 3 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Stroud Gloucestershire Committee System GRN (minority) 51 7 2 20 22 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Surrey Heath Surrey Leader and cabinet LDM 35 6 23 2 0 4 0 All URL OCDUK
Swale Kent Committee system NOC 47 10 5 16 3 13 0 All URL OCDUK
Tamworth Staffordshire Leader and cabinet LAB 30 7 0 18 0 5 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Tandridge Surrey Leader and cabinet IND (min) 43 7 11 0 0 25 0 Third URL OCDUK
Teignbridge Devon Leader and cabinet LDM 47 9 25 0 0 13 0 All URL OCDUK
Tendring Essex Leader and cabinet NOC 48 14 4 7 0 23 0 All URL OCDUK
Test Valley Hampshire Leader and cabinet CON 43 26 17 0 0 0 All URL OCDUK
Tewkesbury Gloucestershire Committee system NOC 38 9 16 0 4 9 0 All URL OCDUK
Thanet Kent Leader and cabinet LAB 56 16 0 31 5 4 0 All URL OCDUK
Three Rivers Hertfordshire Leader and cabinet LDM (minority) 39 12 19 3 3 2 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Tonbridge and Malling Kent Leader and cabinet NOC 44 20 11 3 8 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Torridge Devon Alternative arrangements NOC 36 6 9 2 3 16 0 All URL OCDUK
Tunbridge Wells Kent Leader and cabinet LDM 39 7 22 5 0 5 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Uttlesford Essex Leader and cabinet IND 39 11 4 0 0 24 0 All URL OCDUK
Vale of White Horse Oxfordshire Leader and cabinet LDM 38 0 32 0 4 2 0 All URL OCDUK
Warwick Warwickshire Leader and cabinet NOC 44 5 10 10 15 4 0 All URL OCDUK
Watford Hertfordshire Mayor and cabinet LDM LDM 36 0 30 6 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Waverley Surrey Leader and cabinet NOC 50 11 22 1 0 16 1 All URL OCDUK
Wealden East Sussex Leader and cabinet NOC 45 10 11 2 11 11 1 All URL OCDUK
Welwyn Hatfield Hertfordshire Leader and cabinet NOC 48 12 16 20 0 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
West Devon Devon Alternative arrangements NOC 31 11 4 1 4 11 0 All URL OCDUK
West Lancashire Lancashire Leader and cabinet LAB 45 14 0 26 0 5 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
West Lindsey Lincolnshire Alternative arrangements NOC 36 14 17 0 0 5 0 All URL OCDUK
West Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Leader and cabinet NOC 49 13 21 10 4 1 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
West Suffolk Suffolk NOC 64 26 1 16 1 20 0 All URL OCDUK
Winchester Hampshire Leader and cabinet LDM 45 8 33 0 3 1 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Woking Surrey Leader and cabinet LDM 30 0 24 1 0 5 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Worcester Worcestershire Leader and cabinet LAB (minority) 35 1 5 17 12 0 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Worthing West Sussex Leader and cabinet LAB 37 11 0 21 2 3 0 Thirds URL OCDUK
Wychavon Worcestershire Leader and cabinet CON 43 28 7 1 6 1 0 All URL OCDUK
Wyre Lancashire Leader and cabinet CON 50 28 0 17 0 5 0 All URL OCDUK
Wyre Forest Worcestershire Leader and cabinet CON 33 20 2 4 1 6 1 All URL OCDUK

England: unitary authorities

[edit]

Last full update: 5 May 2024

Unitary authority Control Councillors Cycle Ref.
Total CON LAB LDM GRN Other Vacant
Bath and North East Somerset Leader and cabinet LDM 59 3 7 41 3 5 All URL OCDUK
Bedford Mayor and cabinet CON NOC 46 14 13 13 3 3 All URL OCDUK
Blackburn with Darwen Leader and cabinet LAB 51 9 29 13 Thirds URL OCDUK
Blackpool Leader and cabinet LAB 42 14 28 All URL OCDUK
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole NOC 76 11 10 28 6 20 1 All URL OCDUK
Bracknell Forest LAB 41 10 22 7 2 All URL OCDUK
Brighton & Hove LAB 54 6 38 7 3 All URL OCDUK
Bristol Committee system NOC 70 7 21 8 34 All URL OCDUK
Buckinghamshire Leader and cabinet CON 147 111 6 17 1 12 All URL OCDUK
Central Bedfordshire NOC 63 20 5 9 1 28 All URL OCDUK
Cheshire East Committee system NOC 82 33 29 2 18 All URL OCDUK
Cheshire West and Chester Leader and cabinet LAB 70 23 37 1 2 7 All URL OCDUK
Cornwall Leader and cabinet CON 87 45 5 13 1 23 All URL OCDUK
Cumberland Leader and cabinet LAB 46 8 29 4 2 3 All [1] OCDUK
Darlington Leader and cabinet NOC 50 14 24 3 7 2 All URL OCDUK
Derby NOC 51 15 23 4 9 All URL OCDUK
Dorset Leader and cabinet LDM 82 30 2 42 4 4 All URL OCDUK
Durham Leader and cabinet IND+CON+LDM 126 22 56 17 1 30 All URL OCDUK
East Riding of Yorkshire NOC 67 28 4 22 13 All URL OCDUK
Halton Leader and cabinet LAB 54 1 50 3 Thirds URL OCDUK
Hartlepool Committee system LAB 36 6 24 6 Thirds URL OCDUK
Herefordshire NOC 53 21 1 12 9 10 All URL OCDUK
Isle of Wight Leader and cabinet IND+GRN 39 16 1 4 2 16 All URL OCDUK
Kingston upon Hull LDM 57 26 31 Thirds URL OCDUK
Leicester Mayor and cabinet LAB LAB 54 15 31 3 5 All URL OCDUK
Luton LAB 48 3 30 15 All URL OCDUK
Medway LAB 59 22 33 4 All URL OCDUK
Middlesbrough Mayor and cabinet LAB LAB 46 4 24 2 16 All URL OCDUK
Milton Keynes LAB 57 9 30 18 Thirds URL OCDUK
North East Lincolnshire NOC 42 19 15 3 5 Thirds URL OCDUK
North Lincolnshire CON 43 27 16 All URL OCDUK
North Northamptonshire Leader and cabinet CON 78 53 17 1 3 4 All URL OCDUK
North Somerset NOC 50 13 10 9 8 10 All URL OCDUK
North Yorkshire CON (minority) 90 44 11 13 4 18 All URL OCDUK
Northumberland Leader and cabinet CON (minority) 67 33 19 4 2 9 All URL OCDUK
Nottingham Leader and cabinet LAB 55 50 5 All URL OCDUK
Peterborough LAB (minority) 60 11 19 9 4 17 Thirds URL OCDUK
Plymouth LAB 57 7 42 2 6 Thirds URL OCDUK
Portsmouth LDM (minority) 42 4 8 19 11 Thirds URL OCDUK
Reading LAB 48 4 32 3 8 1 Thirds URL OCDUK
Redcar & Cleveland Leader and cabinet LAB (minority) 59 13 23 11 12 All URL OCDUK
Rutland Leader and cabinet NOC 27 6 2 11 1 7 All URL OCDUK
Shropshire Leader and cabinet CON 74 39 10 17 4 4 All URL OCDUK
Slough NOC 42 21 18 3 Thirds URL OCDUK
Somerset LDM 110 34 5 61 5 5 All URL OCDUK
South Gloucestershire NOC 70 23 17 20 1 All URL OCDUK
Southampton LAB 51 10 36 4 1 Thirds URL OCDUK
Southend-on-Sea NOC 51 18 20 4 2 7 Thirds URL OCDUK
Stockton-on-Tees Leader and cabinet NOC 56 26 22 8 All URL OCDUK
Stoke-on-Trent LAB 44 14 29 1 All URL OCDUK
Swindon LAB 57 15 41 1 Thirds URL OCDUK
Telford and Wrekin LAB 54 8 38 6 2 All URL OCDUK
Thurrock LAB 49 13 27 9 Thirds URL OCDUK
Torbay CON (minority) 36 17 15 3 1 All URL OCDUK
Warrington Leader and cabinet LAB 58 1 42 12 3 All URL OCDUK
West Berkshire LDM 43 11 1 28 2 1 All URL OCDUK
West Northamptonshire Leader and cabinet CON 93 62 20 6 5 All URL OCDUK
Westmorland and Furness Leader and cabinet LDM 65 11 15 36 1 2 All URL OCDUK
Wiltshire CON 98 60 3 29 6 All URL OCDUK
Windsor and Maidenhead LDM 41 7 22 12 All URL OCDUK
Wokingham NOC 54 19 8 27 Thirds URL OCDUK
York LAB 47 3 24 19 1 All URL OCDUK

England: sui generis councils

[edit]

Last full update: 22 June 2022

Sui generis council Control Councillors Cycle Ref.
Total LAB Other Vacant
City of London Corporation 125 5 119 URL
Isles of Scilly IND 16 16 URL OCDUK

Scotland

[edit]

All 32 Scottish Councils had all their seats up for election by Single Transferable Vote in May 2022. Elections are on a five-year cycle and are next due in May 2027. Only two mainland councils are controlled by majority administrations: Dundee and West Dumbartonshire, which are controlled by Scottish Labour and the Scottish National Party, respectively. The three island councils (Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles) are each controlled by local independents.

Political control may be held by minority governments (min), coalitions (co), joint leadership arrangements (j.l.) or partnership working arrangements (p.w.).[20]

Last update 6 May 2022[21][22]

Council Control Web Total SNP CON LAB LD SGP Alba Other Vacant Upcoming by-elections
Aberdeen NOC SNP+LD co URL 45 19 7 11 4 4
Aberdeenshire NOC CON+LD+IND co URL 70 20 24 14 12
Angus NOC CON+IND+LD co URL 28 13 7 1 6
Argyll & Bute NOC CON+LD+IND+ISP co[23] URL 36 12 9 1 5 1 8
Clackmannanshire NOC SNP min[24] URL 18 7 5 4 1 1
Dumfries & Galloway NOC CON+LD+IND co URL 43 11 17 8 1 6
Dundee SNP SNP maj URL 29 15 1 9 4
East Ayrshire NOC SNP min URL 32 14 6 9 3
East Dunbartonshire NOC LD+CON co[25] URL 22 7 5 2 6 1 1
East Lothian NOC LAB min URL 22 6 7 9
East Renfrewshire NOC SNP+LAB co URL 18 5 5 4 4
Edinburgh NOC SNP+LAB co[26] URL 63 16 17 11 6 7 5 1
Falkirk NOC SNP+IND co[27] URL 30 13 7 7 3
Fife NOC SNP+LAB j.l.[28] URL 75 29 13 23 7 2 1
Glasgow NOC SNP min[29] URL 85 35 7 30 6 2 5
Highland NOC IND+LD+LAB co URL 74 19 10 3 11 1 29 1
Inverclyde NOC LAB min URL 22 5 2 8 1 2 4
Midlothian NOC LAB min URL 18 7 5 6
Moray NOC SNP min URL 26 7 9 1 8 1
Na h-Eileanan Siar IND IND URL 31 6 1 1 1 22
North Ayrshire NOC LAB min URL 33 9 8 11 5
North Lanarkshire NOC LAB min URL 77 26 8 31 3 9
Orkney IND IND URL 21 2 19
Perth & Kinross NOC CON min URL 40 13 18 1 5 3
Renfrewshire NOC SNP min URL 43 19 8 13 1 2
Scottish Borders NOC CON+IND co URL 34 8 15 2 9
Shetland IND IND URL 22 1 21
South Ayrshire NOC CON min URL 28 6 11 5 1 5
South Lanarkshire NOC SNP min URL 64 25 11 17 3 8
Stirling NOC SNP+LAB URL 23 7 9 4 1 1 1
West Dunbartonshire LAB LAB maj URL 22 9 12 1
West Lothian NOC LAB min URL 33 14 7 11 1


Wales

[edit]

All 22 Welsh unitary authorities had all of their seats up for election in May 2022, and the next elections are expected in May 2027.

Last update 9 June 2022.

Council Control Web Total LAB PC CON LD GP Other Vacant
Blaenau Gwent LAB maj URL 33 21 12[w 1]
Bridgend LAB maj URL 51 27 2 1 21[w 2]
Caerphilly LAB maj URL 69 45 18 6[w 3]
Cardiff LAB maj URL 79 55 11 10 3[w 4]
Carmarthenshire PC maj URL 75 23 38 14[w 5]
Ceredigion PC maj URL 38 1 20 7 10[w 6]
Conwy NOC IND+LAB+PC URL 55 11 7 10 4 1 22[w 7]
Denbighshire NOC LAB+PC URL 48 19 8 6 1 2 12[w 1]
Flintshire NOC LAB min URL 67 31 2 4 30[w 8]
Gwynedd PC maj URL 69 1 44 1 23[w 9]
Isle of Anglesey PC maj URL 35 3 21 1 10[w 10]
Merthyr Tydfil IND IND URL 30 14 16[w 11]
Monmouthshire NOC LAB min URL 46 22 18 1 5[w 12]
Neath Port Talbot NOC IND+PC URL 58 25 12 2 1 18[w 13]
Newport LAB maj URL 51 35 7 1 1 7[w 14]
Pembrokeshire NOC IND+LAB+PC+LD URL 60 10 2 11 2 35[w 15]
Powys NOC LD+LAB URL 68 9 3 14 24 1 17[w 16]
Rhondda Cynon Taf LAB maj URL 75 59 8 2 6[w 3]
Swansea LAB maj URL 75 45 7 11 1 11[w 17]
Torfaen LAB maj URL 40 30 10[w 10]
Vale of Glamorgan NOC LAB+IND URL 54 25 8 13 8[w 18]
Wrexham NOC IND+CON URL 56 14 9 9 1 23[w 9]
  1. ^ a b 12 Independents
  2. ^ 21 Independents
  3. ^ a b 6 Independents
  4. ^ 2 Common Ground, 1 Propel
  5. ^ 11 Independents, 3 New Independents
  6. ^ 9 Independents, 1 Gwlad
  7. ^ 22 Independents
  8. ^ 30 Independents
  9. ^ a b 23 Independents
  10. ^ a b 10 Independents
  11. ^ 16 Independents
  12. ^ 5 Independents
  13. ^ 18 Independents
  14. ^ 4 Independents, 3 Newport Independents Party
  15. ^ 13 Independents, 22 non-aligned
  16. ^ 17 Independents
  17. ^ 5 Independents, 4 Uplands Party, 2 Independents@Swansea
  18. ^ 4 Independents, 4 Llantwit First Independents

Northern Ireland

[edit]

Elections were most recently held for 11 councils in Northern Ireland in May 2023. They are held every four years, with the next elections due in May 2027. All seats are filled at once by Single Transferable vote within district electoral areas of 5 to 7 wards.

The councils have ceremonial mayors elected by council members. Uniquely in the UK, vacancies are filled by co-option by whichever party won the seat at the previous election.

Last update 21 May 2024.[30]

Key to abbreviations below

Unionists:

Nationalists:

Others:

Control: All councils use a committee system.[clarification needed]

Council Control Web Total SF DUP APNI UUP SDLP TUV GP PBP PUP Ind. Vacant
Antrim and Newtownabbey NOC DUP largest party URL 40 9 13 8 6 1 3
Ards and North Down NOC DUP largest party URL 40 14 12 8 1 2 3
Armagh City,
Banbridge and
Craigavon
NOC SF largest party URL 41 15 13 4 6 1 1 1
Belfast NOC SF largest party URL 60 22 14 11 2 5 1 3 1 1
Causeway Coast and Glens NOC DUP/SF largest parties URL 40 12 12 5 4 3 2 1 1
Derry City and Strabane NOC SF largest party URL 40 18 5 3 8 1 5
Fermanagh and Omagh SF SF largest party URL 40 21 6 2 7 3 1
Lisburn and Castlereagh NOC DUP largest party URL 40 4 14 13 6 2 1
Mid and East Antrim NOC DUP largest party URL 40 4 13 7 8 6 2
Mid-Ulster NOC SF largest party URL 40 19 11 2 5 3
Newry, Mourne and Down NOC SF largest party URL 41 20 5 5 1 8 2
Total 462 144 120 67 53 37 10 5 2 1 23
Council Control Web Total SF DUP APNI UUP SDLP TUV GP PBP PUP Ind. Vacant


See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Local government structure and elections". Government of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Local government". Scottish Government. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Local government". Welsh Government. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Local councils". nidirect. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  5. ^ "PCCS Across the UK". Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  6. ^ "About Local Councils". National Association of Local Councils. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Community councils". Scottish Government. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Elections". nidirect. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Councillors' roles, conduct and pay". Scottish Government. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  10. ^ Bowyer, Osian (October 2021). "Quick guide to the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021: Research Briefing" (PDF). Senedd. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  11. ^ "English Councils 2022 (Total 315)". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Your Councillors". City of London Corporation. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Welsh Councils 2021 (Total 22)". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Scottish Councils 2021 (Total 32)". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Northern Irish Councils". Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Local election results 2023 in England". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  17. ^ http://opencouncildata.co.uk/ [bare URL]
  18. ^ "Decision making in the committee structure".
  19. ^ "Pendle Borough Council's political composition". Pendle Borough Council. 4 April 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Political control | COSLA". cosla.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  21. ^ "Councils". 24 January 2020.
  22. ^ "Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections". www.opencouncildata.co.uk.
  23. ^ "Economic growth and education priorities in Argyll | Press and Journal". Press and Journal. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  24. ^ "Cooperation and collaboration on the agenda at Clacks Council". Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  25. ^ "Protests as new Lib Dem/Tory coalition takes control at East Dunbartonshire Council". Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  26. ^ Gordon, Rebecca. "Leaders sign coalition agreement to run the Capital". edinburgh.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  27. ^ "Council control - Falkirk". Falkirk Council. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  28. ^ "Fife Council agree to SNP and Labour joint partnership". Dunfermline Press. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  29. ^ Glasgow Young Scot, 20 Trongate (18 May 2017). "Councillor Eva Bolander chosen as Glasgow's Lord Provost". Retrieved 25 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "Open Council Data UK | Northern Ireland". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 5 May 2017.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Last updated on 2 May 2024
  2. ^ Last updated on 6 May 2023
  3. ^ Last updated on 6 May 2023
  4. ^ Last updated on 6 May 2023
  5. ^ Last updated on 6 May 2023
[edit]