2026 Local Elections: What Happened in the South Thames Region?

Sussex Councils 

East Sussex County Council: The council is currently in the control of Reform UK, as a minority administration, with the Liberal Democrats on 13 seats (up two seats), the Greens on 11 seats (up seven seats), the Conservatives on three seats (down 24 seats) and Labour losing all of their five seats. On the 21 May it was announced that the council is now led by Reform, under the leadership of Cllr Andy Woolley, who represents the party in the Heathfield and Mayfield division of the county. Martin Kenwood, Reform councillor for Bexhill East, was elected chair of the council.      

West Sussex County Council: The result is very similar to that in East Sussex, with Reform on 23 councillors, the same for the Liberal Democrats, who were up 13 councillors from the last election in 2021. Reform came into the election with no councillors, whilst the Conservatives ended up with just 11 (down 37). The Greens picked up six councillors (up from one) to finish on seven, whilst Labour lost four councillors and finished on five. There is now only one Independent on the council, who now forms part the of the governance. The Liberal Democrat councillor for Horsham East, Jay Mercer, will lead the council.  

Hastings Borough Council: Held elections for 17 of the 32 councillors, with the Greens winning 10 of them and taking their total number to 19. Between 2018 and 2021 the council was run by Labour and then it was no party majority from 2022 to 2024. The Greens had already been running the council as a minority administration, won 9 out of the 16 seats that were up for election, enough for a slim majority and full control. The leader of the council is Glenn Haffenden, the Green Party councillor for the Tressell ward.  

Eastbourne Borough Council: The council is Liberal Democrat controlled, with the next elections scheduled for 2027. The Liberal Democrats have 19 councillors and are in full control of the council. The council is led by Cllr Stephen Holt (Lib Dem, Devonshire ward). The council has previously been an historic stronghold.  

Lewes District Council: The council is controlled by a Liberal Democrat and Green alliance, with the Lib Dems on 14 councillors and the Greens on 18. The council is led by Cllr Zoe Nicholson (Green, Lewes Bridge ward). The next elections are scheduled for 2027. The council has previously been an historic stronghold. 

Rother District Council: The council is controlled by an Independent, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green alliance. The next elections are scheduled for 2027, the council previously being an historic stronghold. The council is led by the Rother Association of Independents councillor for the Bexhill Collington ward, Cllr Doug Oliver. 

Wealden District Council: The council is controlled by a Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat alliance. The next elections are scheduled for 2027. The Liberal Democrats and the Greens both have 11 councillors. The leader of the council is Cllr Rachel Millward (Green, Hartfield ward). 

Adur District Council:  The council is controlled by Labour with 17 councillors. Reform UK have 6 councillors. The next elections are scheduled for 2028. The leader of the council is Cllr Jeremy Gardner (Labour, St Mary’s ward, Shoreham-by-Sea). 

Arun District Council: The Conservatives are the largest party on the council with 19 councillors. However, the council is controlled by a Liberal Democrat, Labour, Green and Independent alliance. The next elections are scheduled for 2027. The council is controlled by Cllr Martin Lury (Liberal Democrat, Bersted ward).  

Chichester District Council: The council is controlled by the Liberal Democrats, having been a Conservative stronghold for years. The Lib Dems have 24 councillors. The council is led by Cllr Adrian Moss (Lib Dem, Harbour Villages ward). 

Crawley Borough Council: The council is a Labour stronghold, with 21 councillors. However, Reform UK have 11 councillors. The next elections are due in 2027. The leader of the council is Cllr Michael Jones (Labour, Bewbush and North Broadfield ward).  

Horsham District Council: Having been a Conservative stronghold for years, the council is now controlled by the Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dems have 26 councillors. The leader of the council is the Liberal Democrat, Martin Boffey (Lib Dem, Trafalgar ward). 

Mid Sussex District Council: The council has 19 Liberal Democrat councillors and 18 Conservative and is controlled by a Liberal Democrat and independent alliance. The next elections are due in 2027. The leader of the council is Cllr Robert Eggleston (Lib Dem, Burgess Hill Meads and Hammonds ward). 

Worthing Borough Council: Worthing has a minority Labour administration with 15 councillors. The Conservatives have 6 councillors and Reform UK have 5. The next elections are due in 2027. Cllr Caroline Baxter (Labour, Central Ward) is the leader of the council. 

Surrey Councils 

​West Surrey: At West Surrey Council the Liberal Democrats took 56 seats, exceeding the 46 seats which the party needed in order to gain a majority at the Council. The two new unitary councils for East and West Surrey will replace the county, district and borough councils in April 2027.  Labour lost all four of their councillors and are not represented on the council now, while the Conservatives lost 30 seats on the night to finish on 20. Given the strength of their majority, we can expect a strong policy agenda from the Liberal Democrats in the coming months. The council now becomes the ’West Surrey Shadow Authority’, an important step towards the completion of local government reforms. The Liberal Democrat, Cllr Paul Follows, is the Shadow Authority leader.   

East Surrey: Like West Surrey Council, East Surrey Council had a strong performance from the Liberal Democrats during the May local elections. They increased their number of seats by 34 seats to take control of the council. Labour is not represented on the council and the Conservatives lost 34 seats to take their overall seat number to 10. Reform took five seats. The Liberal Democrat councillor, Steve Wotton, who represents the Horley West and Sidlow ward, is the leader of the council.  

Spelthorne Borough Council: Although the Conservatives are the largest group on the council with 14 councillors, it is led by the Liberal Democrats, who have 11 councillors, with the council being in no overall control. The council leader is Greg Neall (Lib Dem) and it has 39 councillors.  

Runnymede Borough Council: The council has 41 councillors with it being in no overall control. Although the Conservatives are the largest party, with 12 councillors, the Runnymede Independent Residents Group (five councillors), Labour (eight councillors), Liberal Democrats on seven councillors and Greens (two councillors) run the council with four co-leaders (a leader from each group).  

Tandridge District Council: The council is dominated by councillors from resident’s associations (20 councillors in total) and they have minority control. The leader is Catherine Sayer from the Residents Association. 

Guildford Borough Council: The Liberal Democrats are the largest party with 25 councillors and have control of the council. The leader is councillor Julia McShane (Lib Dem). 

Surrey Heath Borough Council: The Liberal Democrats are in control of the council with 23 councillors. The leader is Cllr Shaun Macdonald (Lib Dem). 

Waverley Borough Council: There is a Liberal Democrat/ Independent alliance leadership at the council, with the council leader being Paul Follows (Lib Dem, Godalming Central and Ockford ward).  

Woking Borough Council: The Liberal Democrats are in control of the council with 23 councillors. The leader of the council is Ann-Marie Barker (Lib Dem, Goldsworth Park). 

Elmbridge Borough Council: The council is controlled by a Liberal Democrat and Residents Association alliance. The Lib Dems have 20 councillors. The leader of the council is Cllr Mike Rollings (Lib Dem, Claygate). 

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council: The council is controlled by the Residents Association, which has 21 councillors. Independent councillors make up 25 of the 35 councillors on the council. The leader of the council is Cllr Hannah Dalton (Residents Association, Stoneleigh ward). The council has been run by the Residents Association since 1930. 

Mole Valley District Council: The council is controlled by the Liberal Democrats who have 31 of the 39 councillors. Cllr Bridget Kendrick (Lib Dem, Leatherhead South) is the leader of the council. 

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council: The council is in minority Conservative control and has 17 councillors. The Greens have 14 councillors. The leader of the council is Cllr Richard Biggs (Con, Horley West and Sidlow).  

Kent Councils 

​Maidstone: There were no elections at Maidstone Borough Council, but given the strength of Reform UK in Kent, we can expect that there will be changes to the council at the next elections in 2028. At the end of April, it was announced that the council had become the first to formerly adopt a Rights of Nature framework, marking a significant step towards it making greater efforts to protect nature across its governance, decision-making and service delivery. It is unclear how this framework will affect the operation of the local planning authority and planning decisions. 

Tunbridge Wells: At the May 2026 election, there were no major changes, with the Liberal Democrats making the only gains by winning three seats, further strengthening their control of the council. They now hold more than 60% of all council seats. On the 20 May, the Liberal Democrat councillor, Ben Chapelard (St James’s ward), was re-elected as leader of the council.  

Medway Council: The council is controlled by Labour, who have 31 councillors, with the Conservatives on 18 councillors. The leader of the councillor is Cllr Vince Maple (Labour, Chatham Central and Brompton ward). 

Swale Borough Council: The council is controlled by an alliance of Labour, Swale independents and the Greens. Labour have 15 councillors, the Conservatives have 10 councillors, with the Liberal Democrats on 5 councillors. The Greens have 3 councillors. The leader of the council is Cllr Tim Gibson (Labour, Roman ward).  

Canterbury City Council: The council is run by a minority Labour administration. Labour have 18 councillors. The leader of the council is Cllr Alan Baldock (Labour, Northgate ward). 

Sevenoaks District Council: Sevenoaks is controlled by a minority Conservative administration, with the party having 23 councillors. The leader of the council is Cllr Kevin Maskell (Con, Westerham and Crockham Hill ward). 

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council: The council is run by a Conservative and Independent alliance. The Conservatives have 21 councillors and the Liberal Democrats have 11. The leader of the council is Cllr Matt Boughton (Con, East Peckham, West Peckham, Mereworth and Wateringbury ward). 

Ashford Borough Council: The council is run by an Ashford Independents, Green and Independent alliance. The Ashford Independents have 9 councillors. Cllr Noel Ovenden (Ashford Independent, Wye with Hinxhill ward) is the leader. 

Berkshire Councils 

Bracknell Forest Council: The council is in minority Labour control, with the party having 18 councillors. The leader is Cllr Helen Purnell (Lab, Easthampstead and Wildridings). 

West Berkshire Council: The council is in the control of the Liberal Democrats who have 28 councillors. The leader of the council is Cllr Jeff Brooks (Lib Dem, Thatcham West). 

Slough Borough Council: The Conservatives have minority control of the council with 19 councillors. The leader of the council is Cllr Wal Chahal (Con, Langley Marsh ward).  

​Windsor and Maidenhead: The whole council is elected every 4 years, with the next election in 2027. At the 2023 election, the council was won by the Liberal Democrats, with a change in administration from the Conservatives.  

Reading:  At the May 2026 election, Labour lost 4 seats, but the council still remains comfortably under Labour control with 29 seats (25 needed for a majority), with no change in the administration. However, after the 2027 election, the Labour administration’s majority could easily be chipped away at again by the other political parties and new alliances might need to be formed. The Labour leader of the council is Cllr Liz Terry. 

Wokingham: The council is elected in thirds every year. The next election will take place in 2027. At the May 2026 election, the Liberal Democrats won 1 seat, meaning the election result has only helped to cement the Party’s existing control of the council with it being on 29 seats (28 needed for a majority). The Liberal Democrats control just over 50% of the total number of seats on the council. The leader is Cllr Stephen Conway. 

Hampshire Councils 

Hampshire County Council: Hampshire, with a budget of £3.3 billion annual budget, has previously been administered by the Conservatives. Although they are still the largest party, with 27 councillors, in late May they were reliant on votes from 3 Reform UK councillors and 1 independent in order to re-gain the leadership of the council and install Cllr Nick Adams King as the leader. Also, councillors from the New Forest Together group, which opposes the local government reform proposals for the county, welcomed Cllr Adams intent to pursue a judicial review against them.  

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council: The independents (the Independent Forum) are still the largest group on the council with 18 out of 54 seats after the May local elections. They, along with the Greens, have formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats who have 10 seats. The council leader is Paul Harvey, an Independent Forum councillor.   

East Hampshire District Council: The council is controlled by the Conservatives and the Whitehill and Borden Community Party (WBCP). The Conservatives have 18 councillors and the WBCP have 6 councillors.  

Fareham Borough Council: The council is controlled by the Conservatives, who have 22 councillors. Cllr Simon Martin (Con, Park Gate ward) is the Executive Leader of the council. 

Hart District Council: The council is controlled by the independent Community Campaign Hart (CCH) party and the Liberal Democrats. The next elections are scheduled for 2027. The leader of the council is David Neighbour (Lib Dem, Yately East). 

Back to Local Election Results page, or review North Thames Region council results page, or South Midlands Region councils.