2026 Chorley Borough Council election

2026 Chorley Borough Council election

7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)

14 out of 42 seats to Chorley Borough Council
22 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Aileen Semmence
Party Labour Conservative
Last election 39 seats, 60.5% 3 seats, 26.8%
Current seats 36[1] 4

 
Party Reform UK Independent
Last election Did not stand Did not stand
Current seats 1 1

Incumbent Leader

Aileen Semmence
Labour



The 2026 Chorley Borough Council election will take place on 7 May 2026 to elect members of Chorley 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 39 Labour 36
Conservative 3 Conservative 4
Reform UK 0 Reform UK 1
Independent 0 Independent 1

Changes 2024–2026:

  • March 2025: Zara Khan (Labour) resigns – by-election held May 2025[3]
  • May 2025:
    • Martin Topp (Reform) gains by-election from Labour[4]
    • Samantha Martin (Labour) resigns – by-election held June 2025[5]
  • June 2025: Aidy Riggott (Conservative) gains by-election from Labour[6]
  • February 2026: Chris Snow (Labour) suspended from party[7]

Election result

2026 Chorley Borough Council election
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Labour 24
  Conservative 3
  Reform UK 1 0
  Independent 1
  Green 0
  Liberal Democrats 0

Incumbents

Ward Incumbent councillor Party Re-standing
Adlington & Anderton June Molyneaux Labour
Buckshaw & Whittle Dedrah Moss Labour
Chorley East Martin Topp[a] Reform UK
Chorley North & Astley Alistair Morwood Labour
Chorley North East Jenny Whiffen Labour
Chorley North West Matthew Lynch Labour
Chorley South East &
Heath Charnock
Samir Khan Labour
Chorley South West Terry Howarth Labour
Clayton East, Brindle &
Hoghton
Michelle Beach Labour
Clayton West & Cuerden Neville Whitham Labour
Coppull Ryan Towers Labour
Croston, Mawdesley &
Euxton South
Alan Platt Conservative
Eccleston, Heskin &
Charnock Richard
Arjun Singh Labour
Euxton Tommy Gray Labour

Candidates

References

  1. ^ Elected at the 2025 Chorley East by-election.
  1. ^ "Chorley Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 17 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. "Ready when you are, Ms McGill". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  4. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Chorley East Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  5. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Reform gets Broads support". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Buckshaw and Whittle Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Councillor suspended over 'inappropriate' post". BBC News. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 5 March 2026.