2026 Huntingdonshire District Council election

Main article: Huntingdonshire District Council elections
2026 Huntingdonshire District Council election
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
All 52 seats to Huntingdonshire District Council
27 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Ross Martin [a] Sarah Conboy
Party Conservative Independent Liberal Democrats
Last election 22 seats, 43.5% 11 seats, 20.0% 10 seats, 20.2%
Current seats 18 15[b] 16
 
Leader Sam Wakeford Lara Davenport-Ray
Party Labour Green
Last election 4 seats, 12.1% 1 seat, 4.1%
Current seats 3 2
Incumbent Leader

Sarah Conboy
Liberal Democrats
No overall control[c]



The 2026 Huntingdonshire 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 all 52 members of Huntingdonshire District Council in England.[1]

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

Background

In 2022, the Conservative Party lost the council to no overall control.[2]

Council composition

After 2022 election Before 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats
Conservative 22 Conservative 18
Liberal Democrats 10 Liberal Democrats 16
Labour 4 Labour 3
Green 1 Green 2
Independent 11 Independent 15[b]
St Neots Independents 4 St Neots Independents Dissolved

Changes 2022–2026:

  • January 2023: Doug Dew (Conservative) joins Liberal Democrats[3]
  • March 2024: Richard West (Conservative) resigns – by-election held May 2024[4]
  • May 2024:
    • James Catmur (Liberal Democrats) gains by-election from Conservatives[5]
    • Martin Hassall (Liberal Democrats) leaves party to sit as an independent[6]
  • June 2024: Graham Welton (Conservative) dies – by-election held September 2024[7]
  • September 2024: Barry Chapman (Independent) gains by-election from Conservatives[8]
  • September 2025: Roger Brereton (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent[9]
  • November 2025: St Neots Independent Group dissolved – Barry Banks, Ian Taylor, Simone Taylor, and Doug Terry sit as independents
  • January 2026:
    • Michael Burke (Independent), Cath Gleadow (Labour), and Sally Howell (Independent) join Liberal Democrats[10][11]
    • Stephen Ferguson (Independent) joins Greens[12]
  • February 2026:
    • Ann Blackwell (Independent) and Tom Sanderson (Independent) join Liberal Democrats[13]

Candidates

References

  1. ^ Tom Sanderson was leader of the HDC Independent group and Ben Pitt was the leader of the Cambs Independent group.
  2. ^ a b Of the 15 Independent councillors, 10 sat in the HDC Independent group, 4 sat in the Cambs Independent group, and 1 was non-aligned.
  3. ^ Liberal Democrat/Independent/Labour/Green coalition.
  1. ^ "Huntingdonshire District Council want to go ahead with local elections". BBC News. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Huntingdonshire result - Local Elections 2022". BBC News. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  3. ^ Gilham, Alexander (9 January 2023). "Cambridgeshire Conservative party councillor defects to the Liberal Democrats". The Hunts Post. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  4. ^ "MINUTES of the meeting of the COUNCIL held in the CIVIC SUITE (LANCASTER / STIRLING ROOMS), PATHFINDER HOUSE, ST MARY'S STREET, HUNTINGDON PE29 3TN on Wednesday, 27 March 2024" (PDF). Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Great Paxton Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  6. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Kirklees leader defection". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  7. ^ "MINUTES of the meeting of the COUNCIL held in the CIVIC SUITE (LANCASTER / STIRLING ROOMS), PATHFINDER HOUSE, ST MARY'S STREET, HUNTINGDON PE29 3TN on Wednesday, 17 July 2024" (PDF). Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — St Neots Eatons Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  9. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Reform's going to Topham". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  10. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Gosport goes Reform". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  11. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Advancing into Derbyshire and South Yorkshire". LocalCouncils.co.uk.
  12. ^ Lack, Phil (27 January 2026). "Stephen Ferguson to Stand as Green Party Candidate After Eight Years as Independent". Black Cat Radio. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  13. ^ Pack, Mark (26 February 2026). "Two more councillors join the Lib Dems in Huntingdonshire". Mark Pack. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
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