2026 Brentwood Borough Council election

2026 Brentwood Borough Council election

7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)

13 out of 39 seats to Brentwood Borough Council
20 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Barry Aspinell Will Russell Gareth Barrett
Party Liberal Democrats Conservative Labour
Last election 17 seats, 39.9% 19 seats, 39.4% 3 seats, 17.3%
Current seats 17 16 3

 
Leader Sheila Murphy Russell Quirk
Party Independent Reform UK
Last election Did not stand 0 seats, 0.8%
Current seats 2 1

Incumbent Leader

Barry Aspinell
Liberal Democrats
No overall control



The 2026 Brentwood Borough Council election will be held on 7 May 2026, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom being held on the same day, to elect 13 of 39 members of Brentwood Borough Council.[1]

Background

In 2024, the council remained under no overall control.[2] The Liberal Democrats have run the council as a minority with Labour since 2023.[3] In 2023, the Conservatives lost their majority.[4]

Council composition

After 2024 election Before 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats
Liberal Democrats 17 Liberal Democrats 17
Conservative 19 Conservative 16
Labour 3 Labour 3
Reform UK 0 Reform UK 1
Independent 0 Independent 2

Changes 2024–2026:

  • April 2025: Sheila Murphy (Conservative) and Fiona Marsh (Conservative) leave party to sit as independents[5]
  • July 2025: Mark Reed (Conservative) dies – by-election held October 2025[6]
  • October 2025: Russell Quirk (Reform) gains by-election from Conservatives[7]

Candidates

References

  1. ^ "Election results from previous years | Brentwood Council". www.brentwood.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Brentwood result - Local Elections 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  3. ^ Dedman, Simon (18 May 2023). "Brentwood Council: Lib Dems to run authority with Labour". BBC News. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  4. ^ Meyler, Piers (5 May 2023). "Brentwood Council fails to keep full control as Tories lose three seats". Essex Live. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  5. ^ Boothoryd, David. "Reform go to Bognor". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  6. ^ Meyler, Piers (7 July 2025). "Tributes pour in for former Essex mayor after 'unexpected death'". Essex Live. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Hutton South Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2026.