2026 Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council election

Main article: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council elections
2026 Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council election
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
All 44 seats to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
23 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Simon Tagg Dave Jones Lynn Dean
Party Conservative Labour Reform UK
Leader's seat Westlands Keele Knutton
Last election 25 seats, 49.5% 19 seats, 46.8% Did not stand
Current seats 26 17 1
Incumbent Leader

Simon Tagg
Conservative



The 2026 Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council election is set to be held on Thursday 7 May 2026 to elect all 44 councillors who serve on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. It will be held alongside council elections across England.

Background

Simon Tagg has served as Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council since December 2017. In the 2025 Staffordshire County Council election, Newcastle-under-Lyme experienced a significant political shift towards Reform,[1] which secured eight of the nine available seats in the area and 44.7% of the total vote. Labour failed to win any seats, while the Conservatives retained only one.

Reform gained its first seat on the council earlier in May 2025 through a by-election victory in Knutton.[2]

A major topic of local concern is the proposed reorganisation of local government, with widespread opposition to the government's plans to potentially merge Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent, and Newcastle-under-Lyme councils, or alternatively divide Staffordshire along east–west lines.[3] A large number of residents have signed a petition protesting these proposals.[4]

Other key local issues include the development of solar farms, and the housing of asylum seekers in local hotels,[5] among other community concerns.

Council composition

After 2022 election Before 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats
Conservative 25 Conservative 26
Labour 19 Labour 17
Reform UK 0 Reform UK 1

Changes 2022–2026:

  • November 2023: Susan Beeston (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[6]
  • July 2023: Sue Moffat (Labour) and Steph Talbot (Labour) resign – by-elections held September 2023[7]
  • September 2023: Rebekah Lewis (Labour) and Robert Moss (Labour) win by-elections[8][9]
  • May 2024: Gary White (Conservative) and Simon White (Conservative) resign – by-election held July 2024[10]
  • July 2024: Mandy Berrisford (Conservative) and Jill Whitmore (Conservative) win by-election[11]
  • November 2024: Wendy Brockie (Labour) resigns – by-election held February 2025[12]
  • February 2025:
    • Sheelagh Casey-Hulme (Labour) wins by-election[13]
    • Barry Panter (Conservative) dies – by-election held May 2025[14]
  • April 2025: Robert Moss (Labour) resigns – by-election held May 2025[15]
  • May 2025:
    • Lynn Dean (Reform) gains by-election from Labour[16]
    • Andrew Turnock (Conservative) wins by-election[17]
  • August 2025: Susan Beeston (Independent) joins Conservatives[18]

References

  1. ^ Andrews, Rob (2025-05-02). "Live: Reform UK win eight out of nine council seats across Newcastle". Stoke on Trent Live. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  2. ^ Sutton, Jonathan (2025-05-02). "Reform UK double delight as Lynn Dean wins May Bank & Wolstanton". Stoke-on-Trent Live. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  3. ^ "Five different plans for re-drawing Staffordshire's political map". BBC News. 2025-11-08. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  4. ^ Andrews, Rob (2025-01-20). "'No to merger with Stoke' protest in Newcastle borough independence fight". Stoke-on-Trent Live. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  5. ^ Andrews, Rob (2025-08-25). "Tory leader raises concerns over asylum seeker placements in Staffordshire". Stoke-on-Trent Live. Retrieved 2025-11-13.
  6. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Scottish Labour steels seat". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  7. ^ Price, Richard (27 July 2023). "Double resignation rocks Labour as councillors quit". Stoke-on-Trent Live. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  8. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Audley Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Knutton Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  10. ^ Corrigan, Philip (31 May 2024). "Tory couple stand down as they sell luxury B&B and quit Staffordshire". Stoke-on-Trent Live. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  11. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Madeley and Betley Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  12. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Greenhithe feels in need of Reform". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Town Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  14. ^ Ames, Ellie (17 February 2025). "Staffordshire mayor dies after car crash | LocalGov". www.localgov.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  15. ^ Corrigan, Philip (5 April 2025). "Voters to elect third borough councillor in three years". Stoke-on-Trent Live. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Knutton Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  17. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — Loggerheads Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  18. ^ Boothroyd, David. "The Addled Byelections". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
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