2026 Havant Borough Council election

Main article: Havant Borough Council elections
2026 Havant Borough Council election
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
12 out of 36 seats to Havant Borough Council
19 seats needed for a majority
 
Party Labour Conservative Green
Last election 10 seats, 18.5% 13 seats, 37.8% 4 seats, 19.6%
Current seats 9[1] 8 6
 
Party Liberal Democrats Reform UK Independent
Last election 7 seats, 20.7% 2 seats, 2.8% 0 seats, 0.6%
Current seats 5 5 3
Incumbent Leader

Philip Munday
Labour
No overall control[a]



The 2026 Havant 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 12 of 36 members of Havant Borough Council in Hampshire, England.[2]

Due to ongoing local government reorganisation, this will be the final election to Havant Borough Council before it is abolished and replaced by a successor unitary authority. Elections to the successor authority are due to take place in 2027.

Summary

Background

In 2024, the Conservative Party lost the council to no overall control.[3][4]

Council composition

After 2024 election Before 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 10 Labour 9
Conservative 13 Conservative 8
Green 4 Green 6
Liberal Democrats 7 Liberal Democrats 5
Reform UK 2 Reform UK 5
Independent 0 Independent 3

Changes 2024–2026:

  • October 2024: Elizabeth Lloyd (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent[5]
  • January 2025: Jonathan Hulls (Liberal Democrats) joins Greens[6]
  • May 2025: Paul Gray (Liberal Democrats) leaves party to sit as an independent[7]
  • July 2025: Elaine Shimbart (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent[8]
  • November 2025: Mark Coates (Labour) joins Greens[9]
  • December 2025: Caren Diamond (Conservative) and Gwen Robinson (Conservative) join Reform[10]
  • January 2026: Sarah Milne (Conservative) joins Reform[11]

Election result

2026 Havant Borough Council election[1]
Party This election Full council This election
Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Labour 6
  Conservative 5
  Green 4
  Liberal Democrats 5
  Reform UK 1
  Independent 3

Incumbents

Below are a list of the incumbent councillors whose seats are due for election in 2026.[1]

Ward Incumbent councillor Party Re-standing
Bedhampton Liz Fairhurst Conservative
Cowplain Andrew Briggs Conservative
Emsworth Charles Robert Green
Hart Plain James Blades Conservative
Havant St Faith's Daniel Berwick Labour
Hayling East Peter Oliver Labour
Hayling West Jonathan Hulls[b] Green
Leigh Park Central & West Leigh Sharon Collings Reform
Leigh Park Hermitage Vicky Rhodes Reform
Purbrook Caren Diamond[c] Reform
Stakes Simon Hagan Labour
Waterloo Gwen Robinson[c] Reform

Candidates

References

  1. ^ Labour/Green/Liberal Democrats coalition.
  2. ^ Originally elected as a Liberal Democrat, but later defected to the Green Party.
  3. ^ a b Originally elected as a Conservative, but later defected to Reform.
  1. ^ a b c "Havant Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Current and Future Elections | Havant Borough Council". www.havant.gov.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  3. ^ "Havant result - Local Elections 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Massive shock as Conservatives lose Havant Borough Council - full list of results". The News. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  5. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Tories take off in Woodford". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  6. ^ Boothroyd, David. "North Devon Liberals get Instow". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  7. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Post-election roundup". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  8. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Reform bank key win". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  9. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Shalom aleichem, Natalie". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  10. ^ Brown, Kelly (9 December 2025). "Two councillors defect to Reform UK in yet another blow for the Conservatives". The News. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  11. ^ Brown, Kelly (14 January 2026). "Councillor defects to Reform UK in another blow for borough's Conservatives". The News. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
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