2026 Newcastle City Council election

Main article: Newcastle City Council elections
2026 Newcastle City Council election
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
All 78 seats to Newcastle City Council
40 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Karen Kilgour Colin Ferguson Marion Williams[a]
Party Labour Liberal Democrats Independent
Last election 45 seats, 40.6% 23 seats, 24.8% 4 seats, 6.5%
Current seats 36[c][1] 22 12[b]
 
Leader Nick Hartley Tracey Mitchell Doc Anand
Party Green Newcastle Ind. Conservative
Last election 2 seats, 14.3% 3 seats, 2.8% 1 seat, 10.5%
Current seats 4 3 1
Incumbent Leader

Karen Kilgour
Labour
No overall control[d]



The 2026 Newcastle City Council election will occur on 7 May 2026,[2] with all 78 seats on Newcastle City Council up for election.[3] The election will be held alongside other local elections across Great Britain.

Since the previous council election in 2024, the council fell into no overall control, with the Labour Party remaining the single largest party but losing control of the council. The Liberal Democrats remained the largest opposition.

In August 2025, Jamie Driscoll, former Mayor of the North of Tyne and former Newcastle City Council member, announced he was standing in the election in Monument ward. He said that a progressive alliance of Majority, the Green Party, and independents could win control of Newcastle City Council. In December 2025, Driscoll joined the Green Party.[4]

Previous council composition

After 2024 election Before 2026 election[1][e]
Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 45 Labour 36
Liberal Democrats 23 Liberal Democrats 22
Green 2 Green 4
Newcastle Ind. 3 Newcastle Ind. 3
Conservative 1 Conservative 1
Independent 4 Independent 12[f]

Changes 2024–2026:

  • July 2024: Gerry Keating (Liberal Democrats) resigns – by-election held September 2024[5]
  • September 2024: Peter Allen (Liberal Democrats) wins by-election[6]
  • October 2024: Thom Campion (Liberal Democrats) leaves party to sit as an independent[7]
  • April 2025: Jane Byrne (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[8]
  • June 2025: Milo Barnett (Labour) resigns – by-election held August 2025[9]
  • August 2025: Sarah Peters (Green) gains by-election from Labour[10]
  • November 2025:
    • Nick Kemp (Labour), John Stokel-Walker (Labour), Marion Williams (Labour), David Wood (Labour), Margaret Wood (Labour), and Stevie Wood (Labour) leave party to sit as independents[g][11]
    • Alistair Chisholm (Labour) joins Greens[12]

Notes

  1. ^ Leader of the East End & Associates Independent Group.
  2. ^ Of the 12 Independent councillors before the election, 6 sat in the East End & Associates Independent Group and 6 were non-aligned.
  3. ^ Includes the vacant seats in South Jesmond and Walkergate both last held by Labour.
  4. ^ Labour minority.
  5. ^ Last updated 10 February 2026.
  6. ^ Includes East End and Associates Independent Group
  7. ^ All sit as part of the East End and Associates Independent Group, which is not registered as a political party.


References

  1. ^ a b "Newcastle upon Tyne Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 10 February 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Upcoming elections". Newcastle City Council. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  3. ^ Holland, Daniel (July 28, 2025). "Rachel Reeves spotted in Newcastle as Chancellor joins by-election campaign". Chronicle Live.
  4. ^ Holland, Daniel (18 August 2025). "Ex-mayor Jamie Driscoll to stand for election in Newcastle under 'progressive alliance' plans". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  5. ^ Shakespeare, Austen (31 July 2024). "By-election called following resignation of long-standing Newcastle councillor". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — North Jesmond Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  7. ^ Boothroyd, David. "Double SNP win in Dundee". LocalCouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  8. ^ Holland, Daniel (28 April 2025). "Newcastle Labour loses another councillor and now holds less than 50% of council". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  9. ^ Holland, Daniel (30 June 2025). "Newcastle by-election looms after Jesmond Labour councillor resigns". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Local Elections Archive Project — South Jesmond Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  11. ^ Holland, Daniel (5 November 2024). "Newcastle Labour exodus as ex-council leader Nick Kemp and five others quit". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Newcastle City Labour councillor Alistair Chisholm defects to Greens". BBC News. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
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