2026 Isle of Wight Council election

2026 Isle of Wight Council election
7 May 2026
All 39 seats to the Isle of Wight Council
20 seats needed for a majority
Registered110,666
Turnout48,218
43.6% Increase6.7pp[1]
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader James Whelan Andrew Garratt
Party Reform Independent Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Central Rural Parkhurst and Hunnyhill
Last election Did not stand 13 seats, 24.4% 1 seats, 5.2%
Seats before 2 17 4
Seats won 19 11 4
Seat change Increase19 Decrease 2 Increase3
Popular vote 15,340 11,600 4,060
Percentage 31.9% 24.1% 8.4%
Swing Increase31.9pp Decrease0.3pp Increase3.2pp
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
Leader Ed Blake Claire Critchison Jock Rafferty
Party Conservative Green Labour
Leader's seat Ventnor and St Lawrence Chale, Niton and Whitwell Cowes North
Last election 18 seats, 38.7% 2 seats, 11.1% 1 seat, 11.6%
Seats before 13 2 1
Seats won 2 2 1
Seat change Decrease16 Steady Steady
Popular vote 9,040 6,032 1,840
Percentage 18.8% 12.5% 3.8%
Swing Decrease19.9pp Increase1.4pp Decrease7.8pp
Results by Ward
Council leader before election

Phil Jordan
Independent
No overall control[a]

 Council leader after election

Jonathan Bacon
Independent
No overall control

The 2026 Isle of Wight Council election took place on 7 May 2026 to elect members to Isle of Wight Council on the Isle of Wight, England.[2] 39 seats were elected. This was on the same day as other local elections. The council remained under no overall control.[3] At 43.6%, turnout was the highest for an all-out Isle of Wight council election, outside of a general election year, since 1993.

Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control, being run by a coalition called the "Alliance Group", comprising some of the independent councillors and the Green Party, led by independent councillor Phil Jordan.[4]

At this election, the council remained under no overall control. Reform UK, which had only two seats immediately before the election, won nineteen seats, becoming the largest party but falling one seat short of an overall majority. The incumbent leader of the council, Phil Jordan, lost his seat.[5] At the subsequent annual council meeting on 27 May 2026, independent councillor Jonathan Bacon was appointed as the new leader of the council with the backing of Reform UK and some of the independent councillors.[6][7] All the committee chair positions were taken by either Reform or independent councillors.[8]

Background

At the 2021 election, the Conservatives lost the council to no overall control.[9]

Council composition

After 2021 election Before 2026 election
Party Seats Party Seats
Conservative 18 Conservative 13
Liberal Democrats 1 Liberal Democrats 4
Ind. Network 2 Ind. Network 3
Reform 0 Reform 2
Green 2 Green 2
Labour 1 Labour 1
Independent 13 Independent 14
Vectis Party 1 Vectis Party 0
Our Island 1 Our Island Dissolved

Division results

Bembridge

Bembridge[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mark Rochell 643 37.9 New
Conservative Warren Drew 542 32.0 −35.7
Reform Rowena Crichton-Stuart 510 30.1 New
Majority 101 5.9
Turnout 1,703 54.3 +11.98
Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative Swing

Binstead and Fishbourne

Binstead and Fishbourne[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Ian Dore* 894 57.9 +2.8
Reform Terence Wing 314 20.3 New
Conservative Ramesh Babu 242 15.7 −11.2
Green Alice Walker 93 6.0 New
Majority 580 37.6
Turnout 1,544 52.8 +9.07
Independent hold Swing

Brading and St Helens

Brading and St Helens[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jonathan Bacon* 780 62.9
Reform Tara Hill 380 30.6
Labour Alexander Buggie 72 5.8
Majority 400 32.3
Turnout 1,241 45.5 +5.34
Independent hold Swing

Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet

Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Nick Stuart 797 54.5 +25.6
Reform Vincent Speed 469 32.0 N/A
Conservative Kim Jeffreys 160 10.9 −32.6
Independent Ed Surridge 37 2.5 N/A
Turnout 1466 55.7 +7.24

Carisbrooke and Gunville

Carisbrooke and Gunville[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Vix Lowthion 565 46.5 +5.7
Reform James Downard 399 32.8 New
Conservative Mark Reen 252 20.7 −16.0
Majority 166 13.7 −9.6
Turnout 1,216 42.4 +7.6
Green hold Swing

Central Rural

Central Rural[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform James Whelan 613 42.30 New
Conservative Simon Richards 372 25.67 −31.75
Green Julia Ann Laursen 352 24.29 −4.75
Independent Caroline Gladwin 112 7.72 New
Majority 241
Turnout 1,449 48.35 +11.2
Reform hold Swing 37.02

Chale, Niton and Shorwell

Chale, Niton and Shorwell[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Green Claire Critchison* 822 51.7 −6.2
Reform Mark Nigh 506 31.8 New
Conservative Anne Bishop 261 16.4 −25.7
Majority 316 19.9 +4.0
Turnout 1,589 54.6 +4.0
Green hold Swing

Cowes Medina

Cowes Medina[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Lora Peacey-Wilcox 499 44.7
Reform Joe Hall 318 28.5
Green Dan Jeffries-Revert 214 19.2
Conservative Oscar Bicket 66 5.9
Independent Rachel Thacker 20 1.8
Majority 181 16.2
Turnout 1,120 37.0 +5.62
Independent hold Swing

Cowes North

Cowes North[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Jock Rafferty 439 35.6
Independent Richard Hollis 364 29.5
Conservative Siobhan Barney 223 18.1
Reform Ian Arnold 206 16.7
Majority 75 6.1
Turnout 1,236 44.3 +4
Labour hold Swing

Cowes South and Northwood

Cowes South and Northwood[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Gordon Adam 393 30.8
Conservative John Nicholson 363 28.5
Independent Monique Gallop 292 22.9
Labour Wayne Doidge 121 9.5
Liberal Democrats Bob Packham 106 8.3
Majority 30 2.4
Turnout 1,279 44.9 +5.12
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Cowes West and Gurnard

Cowes West and Gurnard[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Paul Fuller 1,173 75.5
Reform Sue Whitewood 275 17.7
Conservative Phil Sanders 106 6.8
Majority 898 57.8
Turnout 1,558 52.5 +3.62
Independent hold Swing

East Cowes

East Cowes[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Karl Love 876 57.3
Reform Mark Stone 360 23.6
Conservative Peter Ball 156 10.2
Green Christopher Warleigh-Lack 136 8.9
Majority 516 33.8
Turnout 1,530 49.0 +7.26
Independent hold Swing

Fairlee and Whippingham

Fairlee and Whippingham[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Matt Price 602 49.0
Reform John Wilson 380 30.9
Green Sophus Magill 168 13.7
Liberal Democrats Patricia Packham 79 6.4
Majority 222 18.1
Turnout 1,234 42.8 +7.63
Conservative hold Swing

Freshwater North and Yarmouth

Freshwater North and Yarmouth[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Debbie Conlin 422 33.9
Independent David Whistance 405 32.5
Conservative Timothy Jeffreys 197 15.8
Green Florence Sarlat 165 13.3
Labour Simon Ayre 56 4.5
Majority 17 1.4
Turnout 1,246 47.9 +7.3
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Freshwater South

Freshwater South[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Becca Cameron 913 63.8
Reform Ian Pickering 395 27.6
Green Peta Stevenson 89 6.2
Labour Greta Farian 33 2.3
Majority 518 36.2
Turnout 1,433 48.0 +9.44
Independent hold Swing

Haylands and Swanmore

Haylands and Swanmore[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Les Kirkby 437 40.8
Green Peter Banks 203 18.9
Conservative Vanessa Churchman 200 18.7
Independent Sandy Stephens 128 11.9
Liberal Democrats Malcolm Ross 69 6.4
Labour Simon Haytack 35 3.3
Majority 234 21.8
Turnout 1,073 38.7 +5.98
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Lake North

Lake North[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Bill Nigh 421 39.1
Conservative Adrian Whittaker 387 36.0
Liberal Democrats Bob Blezzard 176 16.4
Labour Jenny Hicks 92 8.6
Majority 34 3.2
Turnout 1,078 39.3 +7.62
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Lake South

Lake South[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Ros Freeman 517 41.5
Conservative Paul Brading 431 34.6
Green Harry Eccles 224 18.0
Labour Finton Burns 73 5.9
Majority 86 6.9
Turnout 1,245 45.4 +8.49
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Mountjoy and Shide

Mountjoy and Shide[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Richard Quinn 368 36.0
Conservative Martin Oliver 247 24.2
Green Stephen Rushbrook 185 18.1
Liberal Democrats Ray Harrington-Vail 130 12.7
Labour Alan Hunter 92 9.0
Majority 121 11.8
Turnout 1,022 38.0 +8.22
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Nettlestone and Seaview

Nettlestone and Seaview[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Jules Hayward 542 44.2
Conservative Mouli Akundi 367 30.0
Reform Jennifer Holmes 251 20.5
Green Janet Mace 65 5.3
Majority 175 14.3
Turnout 1,225 51.9 +4.91
Independent hold Swing

Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey

Newchurch, Havenstreet and Ashey[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Tony Barry 638 45.2
Conservative Raj Patel 397 28.1
Green Jude Brown 330 23.4
Labour Anna Beach 47 3.3
Majority 241 17.1
Turnout 1,414 48.8 +7.74
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Newport Central

Newport Central[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Julie Jones-Evans 440 48.3
Reform Emerson Maguire 242 26.6
Liberal Democrats Norman Arnold 178 19.5
Conservative Stephen Bird 51 5.6
Majority 198 21.7
Turnout 914 33.7 +7.41
Independent hold Swing

Newport West

Newport West[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Frank Brown 442 39.6
Green Chris Mace 375 33.6
Conservative Raymond Redrup 299 26.8
Majority 67 6.0
Turnout 1,123 40.0 +9.4
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Osborne

Osborne[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Paul Williams 389 34.2
Independent Tracy Reardon 270 23.8
Conservative Stephen Hendry 226 19.9
Liberal Democrats Julie Burridge 162 14.3
Independent Michael Paler 89 7.8
Majority 119 10.5
Turnout 1,140 35.4 +6.2
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Pan and Barton

Pan and Barton[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Martin Bower 397 46.2
Labour Stephen Reading 366 42.6
Conservative Brian Tyndall 97 11.3
Majority 31 3.6
Turnout 866 27.0 +3.2
Reform gain from Independent Swing

Parkhurst and Hunnyhill

Parkhurst and Hunnyhill[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Andrew Garratt 551 61.2 +1.8
Reform Alan Stay 349 38.8 N/A
Majority 202 22.4
Turnout 902 33.5 +5.88
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Ryde Appley and Elmfield

Ryde Appley and Elmfield[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Michael Lilley 781 60.4 N/A
Reform Ross Caruana 419 32.3 N/A
Conservative Abdul Mateen 94 7.3 −4.2
Majority 362 28.0
Turnout 1,300 42.9 +8.1
Liberal Democrats gain from Independent Swing

Ryde Monktonmead

Ryde Monktonmead[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Network Karen Lucioni 404 36.0
Reform Chris Brown 354 31.5
Green Matt Walker 269 24.0
Conservative Sue Maddison 96 8.5
Majority 50 4.5
Turnout 1,127 38.8 +8.6
Ind. Network hold Swing

Ryde North West

Ryde North West[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Reuben Loake 401 34.4
Green Peter Burke 339 29.0
Independent Phil Jordan 255 21.9
Conservative Lou Temel 172 14.7
Majority 62 5.3
Turnout 1,171 38.4 +3.5
Reform gain from Independent Swing

Ryde South East

Ryde South East[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Chris Way 223 41.3
Liberal Democrats Jen Hughes 153 28.3
Green Richard Collins 82 15.2
Labour Stephen Double 40 7.4
Conservative Andy Clayton 30 5.6
Ind. Network Geraldine Higgins 12 2.2
Majority 70 13.0
Turnout 540 31.4 +9.2
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Ryde West

Ryde West[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Owen Potter 355 37.0
Green Ethan Cass 275 28.6
Ind. Network Ian Stephens 273 28.4
Conservative Carol Brown 57 5.9
Majority 80 8.3
Turnout 962 37.2 +2.1
Reform gain from Ind. Network Swing

Sandown North

Sandown North[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Robert Newton 419 38.5
Independent Alex Lightfoot 325 29.9
Independent Debbie Andre 140 12.9
Conservative Joan Solomon 91 8.4
Green Cinnamon Noakes 76 7.0
Labour Clive Cheetham 37 3.4
Majority 94 8.6
Turnout 1,090 41.5 +6.5
Reform gain from Independent Swing

Sandown South

Sandown South[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Frank Baldry 358 36.5
Independent Paddy Lightfoot 269 27.4
Conservative Ian Ward 216 22.0
Green Christie Greenaway 96 9.8
Labour Emily Brothers 42 4.3
Majority 89 9.1
Turnout 984 36.3 +6.4
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Shanklin Central

Shanklin Central[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Stephen Reynolds 356 29.6
Conservative Michael Beston 355 29.5
Green Robert May 276 22.9
Independent Sarah Morris 216 18.0
Majority 1 0.1
Turnout 1,206 42.8 +7.8
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Shanklin South

Shanklin South[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform David Llewellyn 526 37.2
Conservative Chris Quirk 419 29.6
Independent Billy Hill 195 13.8
Green Wendy Cooper 188 13.3
Labour Co-op Christopher Lloyd 86 6.1
Majority 107 7.6
Turnout 1,416 47.9 +11.9
Reform gain from Conservative Swing

Totland and Colwell

Totland and Colwell[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Chris Jarman* 797 51.6 +10.6
Reform Tom Bignell 422 27.3 New
Green John Hoath 126 8.2 New
Conservative Michelle Abbott 114 7.4 −32.8
Labour Paul Pugh 60 3.9 −10.6
Liberal Democrats Eric Gray 27 1.7 −2.6
Majority 375 24.3
Turnout 1,546 48.8 +5.2
Independent politician hold Swing

Ventnor and St Lawrence

Ventnor and St Lawrence[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Ed Blake 627 45.6
Reform Craig Dabbs 305 22.2
Ind. Network Linda Jefferies 239 17.4
Labour Robin Jarvis 149 10.8
Vectis Party Graham Perks 54 3.9
Majority 322 23.4
Turnout 1,383 46.6 +6.6
Conservative hold Swing

Wootton Bridge

Wootton Bridge[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Tony Raffe 485 38.1 New
Conservative Ed Hopper 291 22.8 −9.0
Liberal Democrats Tony Zeid 208 16.3 New
Green Sue Betts 141 11.1 −2.4
Vectis Party Linda Pitcher 128 10.0 −37.3
Independent Elisa Williams 20 1.6 New
Majority 194 15.3
Turnout 1,274 44.9 +5.2
Reform gain from Vectis Party

Wroxall, Lowtherville and Bonchurch

Wroxall, Lowtherville and Bonchurch[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Ind. Network Mark Jefferies 621 45.8
Reform Ruby Monteath 326 24.0
Conservative David Groocock 234 17.4
Green Jonathan Idle 178 13.0
Majority 295 21.7
Turnout 1,362 45.0 +3.6
Ind. Network gain from Independent Swing

Aftermath

With no party securing a majority, there was uncertainty about who would control the council. After the election, the 11 independent councillors organised themselves into the following groups: 6 Island First Network, 2 All for Islanders (including Cllr Karl Love), and 3 remained non-aligned.[10] 5 of the 6 Island First Network were previously part of the Alliance group.[11]

At its first meeting, the council elected Cllr Jonathan Bacon (non-aligned independent) as the new Leader of the Council, having previously served from 2015 until January 2017, when he resigned ahead of a budget-setting meeting.[12] Despite being by far the largest party, Reform UK did not put forward a candidate, but instead backed Bacon, as did the Island First Network, and All for Islanders; Bacon received 28 votes to nine for Liberal Democrat rival Andrew Garratt, with two abstentions.[12] At the same meeting, Reform and the Island First Network won all but one of the committee chairmanships, with Reform taking the majority.[11] Reform also won the deputy leadership of the council, electing Cllr Bill Nigh.[12] This all led to accusations that Reform and the Island First Network had done a deal to win control of the council, which Bacon would deny, saying "Some incorrect, and in some cases offensive, claims have been made of deals being done or arrangements being made prior to the council meeting on Wednesday evening. Such assertions are false and unnecessary."[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Alliance Group" coalition of some of the independent councillors, Green Party, and Our Island.
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 "Declaration of result of poll" (PDF). Isle of Wight Council. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Election timetable in England". Electoral Commission. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  3. ↑ "Isle of Wight election result - Local Elections 2026". BBC News. 2026-05-08. Retrieved 2026-05-08.
  4. ↑ Pascoe, Tristan (30 April 2026). "'Nightmare' roadworks top concerns for island vote". BBC News. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Pascoe, Tristan (8 May 2026). "Reform rocks Isle of Wight as Labour loses Southampton". BBC News. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Pickles, Rufus; White, Marcus (28 May 2026). "Former council leader wins second term in post". BBC News. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Pickles, Rufus (29 May 2026). "Jonathan Bacon sets out position as he begins council leadership". Isle of Wight Radio. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Council report, 27 May 2026" (PDF). Isle of Wight Council. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Isle of Wight result - Local Elections 2021". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
  10. ↑ "Your Councillors". Isle of Wight Council. Archived from the original on 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  11. 1 2 Pickles, Rufus (28 May 2026). "Reform UK gains most committee chair roles on Isle of Wight Council (updated)". On the Wight. Archived from the original on 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 Pickles, Rufus (27 May 2026). "Jonathan Bacon returns as Isle of Wight Council leader backed by Reform UK votes". On the Wight. Archived from the original on 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  13. ↑ "Vectis View: Cllr Jonathan Bacon – Leader of the Isle of Wight Council". Isle of Wight Observer. 1 June 2026. Archived from the original on 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.


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