2026 Burnley Borough Council election

2026 Burnley Borough Council election
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
15 out of 45 seats to Burnley Borough Council
23 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Mark Townsend Afrasiab Anwar Jamie McGowan
Party Labour Independent Conservative
Last election 15 seats, 32.4% 10 seats, 21.9% 8 seats, 26.3%
Current seats 13[1] 11[a] 7
 
Leader Howard Baker Jack Launer Alan Hosker
Party Liberal Democrats Green Reform UK
Last election 7 seats, 9.2% 5 seats, 10.1% Did not stand
Current seats 7 5 2
Incumbent Leader

Afrasiab Anwar
Independent
No overall control[b]



The 2026 Burnley Borough Council election will take place on 7 May 2026 to elect members of Burnley Borough Council in Lancashire, England.[2] This was on the same day as other local elections.

Summary

Council composition

After 2024 election Before 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 15 Labour 13
Conservative 8 Conservative 7
Liberal Democrats 7 Liberal Democrats 7
Green 5 Green 5
Reform UK 0 Reform UK 2
Independent 10 Independent 11

Changes 2024–2026:

  • February 2025: Charlie Briggs (Labour, elected as BAPIP) leaves party to sit as an independent[3]
  • June 2025: Alan Hosker (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent[4]
  • August 2025:
    • Fiona Wild (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[5]
    • Alan Hosker (Independent) and Jeff Sumner (Liberal Democrats) join Reform[6][7]
    • Charlie Briggs (Independent) joins Liberal Democrats[8]
  • September 2025: Fiona Wild (Independent) and Syeda Kazmi (Independent, elected as Labour) resign – by-elections held November 2025[9][10]
  • November 2025: Shiraz Ahmed (Independent) and Musharaf Parvez (Independent) gain by-elections from Labour[11][12]

Election result

2026 Burnley Borough Council election
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Labour 10
  Independent 7
  Conservative 4
  Liberal Democrats 5
  Green 3
  Reform UK 1

Incumbents

Ward Incumbent councillor Party Re-standing
Bank Hall Afrasiab Anwar[c] Independent
Briercliffe Gordon Lishman Liberal Democrats
Brunshaw Christine Sollis[c] Independent
Cliviger with Worsthorne Jack Launer Green
Coalclough with Deerplay Gordon Birtwistle Liberal Democrats
Daneshouse with Stoneyholme Shah Hussain[c] Independent
Gannow Neil Mottershead[d] Conservative
Gawthorpe Alun Lewis Labour
Hapton with Park Jamie McGowan Conservative
Lanehead Sue Graham Labour
Queensgate Musharaf Parvez[e] Independent
Rosegrove with Lowerhouse Gail Barton Labour
Rosehill with Burnley Wood Jeff Sumner[f] Reform UK
Trinity Alex Hall[g] Green
Whittlefield with Ightenhall Mike Steel Conservative

Candidates

References

  1. ^ The 11 Independent councillors sat in the Independent Group.
  2. ^ Independent–Liberal Democrat–Green coalition.
  3. ^ a b c Originally elected as Labour, but left the party to sit as an Independent.
  4. ^ Originally elected as Burnley & Padiham Independent Party (BAPIP); joined the Conservatives when BAPIP dissolved.
  5. ^ Elected at the 2025 Queensgate by-election.
  6. ^ Originally elected as a Liberal Democrat, but later defected to Reform.
  7. ^ Elected at the 2023 Trinity by-election.
  1. ^ "Burnley Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Update on May 2026 local authority elections". mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). 16 February 2026. Archived from the original on 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  3. ^ Boothroyd, David. "SNP move in for the Killie". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  4. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Booker prize win in Sheffield". LocalCouncils.co.uk.
  5. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Reform trifecta including first ever hold". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  6. ^ Collis, Dominic (4 August 2025). "Former Tory leader defects to Reform UK - fourth party in recent years". Burnley Express. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  7. ^ Collis, Dominic (20 August 2025). "Liberal Democrat councillor Jeff Sumner defects to Reform UK on Burnley Borough Council". Burnley Express.
  8. ^ Jacobs, Bill (19 August 2025). "Another councillor defects to Reform UK in council party merry-go-round". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  9. ^ Jacobs, Bill (11 September 2025). "Charlie Kirk death: Councillor resigns over 'good riddance' post". BBC News. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  10. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Reform's going to Topham". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Lanehead Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Queensgate Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
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