2026 Hastings Borough Council election

2026 Hastings Borough Council election

7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)

16 out of 32 seats to Hastings Borough Council
17 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Glenn Haffenden Helen Kay
Party Green Labour
Last election 12 seats, 37.7% 8 seats, 32.4%
Current seats 12[1] 9

 
Leader Mike Edwards
Party Independent Conservative
Last election 7 5 seats, 19.1%
Current seats 6[a] 5

Incumbent Leader

Glenn Haffenden
Green
No overall control[b]



The 2026 Hastings Borough Council election will take place on 7 May 2026 to elect members of Hastings Borough Council in East Sussex, 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
Green 12 Green 12
Labour 8 Labour 9
Conservative 5 Conservative 5
Independent 7 Independent 6[a]

Changes 2024–2026:

  • July 2024: John Rankin (Independent, elected as Conservative) joins Labour[4]

Election result

2026 Hastings Borough Council election
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Green 9
  Labour 5
  Your Party 0
  Conservative 2
  Reform UK 0
  Liberal Democrats 0
  Independent 0

Incumbents

Ward Incumbent councillor Party Re-standing
Ashdown Mike Edwards Conservative
Baird Mike Turner[c] Your Party
Braybrooke Margi O'Callaghan Labour
Castle Judy Rogers Labour
Central St Leonards Tony Collins Green
Conquest John Rankin Labour
Gensing Amanda Jobson Green
Hollington Paul Barnett[c] Your Party
Maze Hill Andy Patmore Conservative
Old Hastings James Bacon Labour
Ore Simon Willis[c] Your Party
Silverhill Nigel Sinden[c] Your Party
St Helens Andy Batsford[c] Your Party
Tressell Glenn Haffenden Green
West St Leonards Matthew Beaver Conservative
Wishing Tree John Cannan[c] Your Party

Candidates

References

  1. ^ a b It has been reported that Paul Barnett, Andy Batsford, John Cannan, Nigel Sinden, Mike Turner and Simon Willis have joined Your Party.[3] However, Hastings Borough Council lists them as independents, comprising the Hastings Independent Group.
  2. ^ Green–Your Party coalition.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Originally elected as Labour, but later defected to Your Party.
  1. ^ "Hastings Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Update on May 2026 local authority elections". mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. 16 February 2026. Archived from the original on 16 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Hastings Independents join Sultana and Corbyn's Your Party". Hastings Online Times. 30 July 2025. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Councillor John Rankin Defects to Labour". Hastings Independent Press. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2026.