2026 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council election
7 May 2026
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13 out of 39 seats to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council 20 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2026 Tunbridge Wells 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 13 of 39 members of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in Kent, England.[2]
Due to ongoing local government reorganisation, this will be the final election to Tunbridge Wells 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 Liberal Democrats took control of the council.[3]
Election result
| 2026 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council election | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | This election | Full council | This election | |||||||
| Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− | ||
| Liberal Democrats | 15 | |||||||||
| Conservative | 5 | |||||||||
| Labour | 4 | |||||||||
| Alliance | 2 | |||||||||
| IfTW | 0 | |||||||||
| Green | 0 | |||||||||
| Reform UK | 0 | |||||||||
Incumbents
| Ward | Incumbent councillor | Party | Re-standing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden |
David Somers | Conservative | ||
| Culverden | David Osborne | Liberal Democrats | ||
| Hawkhurst, Sandhurst & Beneden |
Ellen Neville | Alliance | ||
| Paddock Wood | Adrian Pitts | Liberal Democrats | ||
| Pantiles | Pamela Wilkinson | Liberal Democrats | ||
| Park | Richard Brown | Liberal Democrats | ||
| Pembury & Capel | David Hayward | IfTW | ||
| Rural Tunbridge Wells | David Knight | Conservative | ||
| Rusthall & Speldhurst | Alex Britcher-Allan | Labour | ||
| Sherwood | Christian Atwood | Conservative | ||
| Southborough & Bidborough |
Joe Opara | Liberal Democrats | ||
| St James | Courtney Souper | Liberal Democrats | ||
| St John's | Ukono Obasi | Liberal Democrats | ||
Candidates
References
- ^ "Tunbridge Wells Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 5 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ "Twenty-nine English councils to delay elections, minister confirms". BBC News. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
- ^ Klaveren, Tom van (3 May 2024). "Tunbridge Wells Local Election results as Lib Dems take council". Kent Live. Retrieved 30 January 2026.