2026 Cherwell District Council election
7 May 2026
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16 out of 48 seats to Cherwell District Council 25 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2026 Cherwell District 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 16 of 48 members of Cherwell District Council in Oxfordshire, England.[1]
Summary
Background
In 2024, the council remained under no overall control.[2]
Council composition
| After 2024 election | Before 2026 election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Seats | Party | Seats | ||
| Liberal Democrats | 17 | Liberal Democrats | 17 | ||
| Conservative | 11 | Conservative | 12 | ||
| Labour | 13 | Labour | 11 | ||
| Green | 4 | Green | 4 | ||
| Independent | 3 | Independent | 4 | ||
Changes 2024–2026:
- March 2025: Matt Hodgson (Labour), Andrew McHugh (Conservative) and Sean Woodcock (Labour) resign – by-elections held May 2025[3][4]
- May 2025:
- September 2025: Chukwudi Okeke (Labour) joins Conservatives[9]
Election result
| 2026 Cherwell Borough Council election | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | This election | Full council | This election | |||||||
| Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− | ||
| Liberal Democrats | 13 | |||||||||
| Conservative | 6 | |||||||||
| Labour | 8 | |||||||||
| Green | 3 | |||||||||
| Independent | 2 | |||||||||
| Reform UK | 0 | |||||||||
Incumbents
| Ward | Incumbent councillor | Party | Re-standing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adderbury, Bloxham & Bodicote | David Hingley | Liberal Democrats | ||
| Banbury Calthorpe & Easington | Ian Harwood | Conservative | ||
| Banbury Cross & Neithrop | Chukwudi Okeke | Conservative | ||
| Banbury Grimsbury & Hightown | Rebecca Biegel | Labour | ||
| Banbury Hardwick | Andrew Crichton | Labour | ||
| Banbury Ruscote | Amanda Watkins | Labour | ||
| Bicester East | Donna Ford | Independent | ||
| Bicester North & Caversfield | Nicholas Mawer | Conservative | ||
| Bicester South & Ambrosden | Chris Pruden | Liberal Democrats | ||
| Bicester West | John Broad | Independent | ||
| Cropredy, Sibfords & Wroxton | Phil Chapman | Conservative | ||
| Deddington | Edward Reeves | Conservative | ||
| Fringford & Heyfords | Barry Wood | Conservative | ||
| Kidlington East | Fiona Mawson | Green | ||
| Kidlington West | Jean Conway | Liberal Democrats | ||
| Launton & Otmoor | Gemma Coton | Liberal Democrats | ||
Candidates
References
- ^ "Local Elections 2026 | Elections 2026 | Cherwell District Council". www.cherwell.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ "Cherwell result - Local Elections 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ Boothroyd, David. "Ready when you are, Ms McGill". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ Boothroyd, David. "Fabian gets the Exe". LocalCouncils.co.uk.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Deddington Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Banbury Grimsbury and Hightown Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Banbury Cross and Neithrop Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ Boothroyd, David. "Reform gets Broads support". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
- ^ Kenney, Esme (22 September 2025). "'The Labour Party has abandoned its values': Labour deputy leader on district council defects to the Conservatives". Banbury Guardian. Retrieved 28 February 2026.