2026 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election

2026 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election
7 May 2026 (2026-05-07)
19 out of 57 seats to Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
29 seats needed for a majority
Turnout40.0%
  First party Second party
 
Leader Eleanor Wills Rob Barrowcliffe
Party Labour Reform
Last election 48 seats, 52.1% Did not stand
Seats before 39[a][1] 1
Seats won 1 18
Seats after 25 19
Seat change Decrease 14 Increase 18
Popular vote 16,698 29,418
Percentage 23.9% 42.1%
Swing Decrease 28.2% N/A
  Third party Fourth party
 
Leader Doreen Dickinson
Party Independent Conservative
Last election 2 seats, 8.0% 7 seats, 20.3%
Seats before 10[b] 7
Seats won 0 0
Seats after 8 5
Seat change Decrease 2 Decrease 2
Popular vote 3,050 7,006
Percentage 4.4% 10.0%
Swing Decrease 3.6% Decrease 10.3%
Winner of each seat at the 2026 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election.
Leader before election

Eleanor Wills
Labour

 Leader after election

TBD
No overall control

The 2026 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election was held on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 57 members of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in Greater Manchester were contested.

Reform UK won 18 of the 19 ward elections and overtook the Conservatives to become the official opposition[2] on the council. Labour retained one contested seat and, although remaining the largest party on the council, lost their 47-year majority. As a result the council fell under no overall control.

Council composition

After 2024 election Before 2026 election[3] After 2026 election[4]
Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats
Labour 48 Labour 38 Labour 25
Conservative 7 Conservative 7 Conservative 5
Reform 0 Reform 1 Reform 19
Independent 2 Independent 10 Independent 8
Vacant N/A Vacant 1 Vacant N/A

Changes 2024–2026:

  • February 2025:
    • Jacqueline North (Labour) resigns – by-election held April 2025[5]
    • Ged Cooney, Allison Gwynne, George Jones, Charlotte Martin, Jack Naylor, George Newton, Claire Reid, Vincent Ricci, Denise Ward, and Brenda Warrington (Labour) suspended from party[6][7]
  • April 2025:
    • Allan Hopwood (Reform) gains by-election from Labour[8]
    • Gary Ferguson (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[9]
  • August 2025: Allison Gwynne, George Jones, Claire Reid, Denise Ward, and Brenda Warrington (Independent) readmitted to Labour[c][11]
  • October 2025: Ann Holland (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[12]
  • November 2025:
    • Claire Reid (Labour) resigns – seat left vacant until 2026 election[13]
    • Barrie Holland (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent[14]

Summary

Background

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974. Aside from a brief period from 1976 to 1980, Labour had formed majority administrations.[15] Each election has since 1980 had returned a Labour administration holding over 70% of the seats with the Conservatives forming the principal opposition for all but three elections.[16] The 2024 election saw Labour lose 2 seats to independents and 1 seat to the Conservatives, but retain their majority.

Over the course of the 2024 to 2026 term, Labour fell to its lowest number of councillors in over 50 years. 10 Labour councillors were suspended during an investigation into offensive messages shared to a WhatsApp group, of which Andrew Gwynne MP was also a part.[6] 5 of these were reinstated on the conclusion of the investigation, but a further 5 seats were lost through defections or resignations.

The 2023 election used a new set of ward boundaries. As such, this election will be for councillors elected with the second highest number of votes in each of the 57 three-member wards.[17] Of the seats contested, Labour held 14, the Conservatives held 2, independents held 2, and one was vacant following the resignation of Labour councillor Claire Reid.

Police investigation

Following the election, Greater Manchester Police arrested four men and a woman on suspicion of fraud offences related to allegations that fake independent candidates were entered into the election for the St Peter's ward to influence its outcome. The police said the arrests related to its investigation into the "process of how candidates were put forward and represented in the ward, and if this adhered to the relevant legislation and electoral procedures".[18]

Election result

Reform UK won 18 of the 19 seats contested while Labour retained control of St Peter's Ward. Labour remained the largest party but lost their majority on the council, which fell into no overall control.

2026 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election
Party This election Full council This election
Candidates Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Labour {{{candidates}}} 1 Decrease14 5.3 24 25 43.9 16,698 23.9 –28.2
  Reform {{{candidates}}} 18 Increase18 94.7 1 19 33.3 29,418 42.1 N/A
  Independent {{{candidates}}} 0 Decrease 2 0.0 8 8 14.0 3,050 4.4 –3.6
  Conservative {{{candidates}}} 0 Decrease 2 0.0 5 5 8.8 7,006 10.0 –10.3
  Green {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 12,675 18.1 +0.5
  Liberal Democrats {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 663 0.9 –0.6
  Workers Party {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 245 0.4 –0.2
  Your Party {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 123 0.2 N/A
  Monster Raving Loony {{{candidates}}} 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 48 0.1 N/A

Incumbents

Ward Incumbent councillor Party Re-standing
Ashton Hurst Dan Costello Conservative No
Ashton St Michael's Bill Fairfoull Labour Yes
Ashton Waterloo Dave Howarth Labour No
Audenshaw Nick Axford Labour Yes
Denton North East Denise Ward Labour Yes
Denton South Claire Reid[d] Labour No
Denton West Branda Warrington Labour Yes
Droylsden East Susan Quinn Labour Yes
Droylsden West Ann Holland[e] Independent Yes
Dukinfield John Taylor Labour Yes
Dukinfield Stalybridge David Sweeton Labour Yes
Hyde Godley Betty Affleck Labour Yes
Hyde Newton Peter Robinson Labour Yes
Hyde Werneth Shibley Alam Labour Yes
Longdendale Gary Ferguson[f] Independent No
Mossley Tafheen Sharif Labour Yes
St Peter's Warren Bray Labour No
Stalybridge North Adrian Pearce Labour Yes
Stalybridge South Liam Billington Conservative Yes

Ward results

Ashton Hurst

Ashton Hurst
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Keiron Lawrence 1,410 37.7 N/A
Labour Noreen Shahzad 806 21.5 −22.3
Conservative Rachel Taylor 797 21.3 −15.0
Green Paige Iborra 588 15.7 −4.2
Independent Samantha Aspin 143 3.8 N/A
Rejected ballots 17 0.5 -0.1
Turnout 3,744 43.1 +11.8
Registered electors 8,736
Reform gain from Conservative

Ashton St Michael’s

Ashton St Michael’s
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Danny Carr 1,265 37.0 N/A
Labour Bill Fairfoull* 916 26.8 −16.3
Green Morgan Murphy 784 22.9 N/A
Conservative David Taylor 235 6.9 −8.8
Independent Hasnain Mehmood 217 6.4 −25.8
Rejected ballots 9 0.3 -0.9
Turnout 3,417 37.2 +8.3
Registered electors 9,219
Reform gain from Labour

Ashton Waterloo

Ashton Waterloo
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Raymond Dunning 1,672 40.2 N/A
Labour Muhammad Tahir 974 23.4 −29.0
Green Lee Huntbach 959 23.0 −24.6
Independent Emma Jones 559 13.4 N/A
Rejected ballots 11 0.3 -2.7
Turnout 4,164 44.5 +14.8
Registered electors 9,384
Reform gain from Labour

Audenshaw

Audenshaw
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Kim Roberts 1,906 43.2 N/A
Labour Nick Axford* 1,022 23.1 −33.8
Green Glenn Piper 983 22.3 −16.2
Conservative Thomas Dunne 506 11.5 N/A
Rejected ballots 24 0.5 -4.1
Turnout 4,417 44.2 +14.5
Registered electors 10,056
Reform gain from Labour

Denton North East

Denton North East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Aron Webb 1,668 49.9 N/A
Labour Denise Ward* 778 23.3 −41.5
Green Jane Martin 631 18.9 −12.4
Conservative Veronica Dawson 265 7.9 N/A
Rejected ballots 14 0.4 -0.2
Turnout 3,342 37.5 +12.4
Registered electors 8,952
Reform gain from Labour

Denton South

Denton South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Audra Murray 1,732 52.6 N/A
Green Jackie Olden 692 21.0 +9.5
Labour Alexander Culbert 606 18.4 −48.8
Conservative Peter Cotton 217 6.6 −13.3
Monster Raving Loony Lord Febrezeo Quinnoa-Stakebake 48 1.5 N/A
Rejected ballots 4 0.1 -1.4
Turnout 3,295 37.4 +9.5
Registered electors 8,819
Reform gain from Labour

Denton West

Denton West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Dan Bennett 1,981 49.6 N/A
Labour Brenda Warrington* 952 23.8 −42.4
Green Tony Tibbenham 859 21.5 +7.6
Conservative Shoaib Akhtar 204 5.1 −13.0
Rejected ballots 15 0.4 -1.5
Turnout 3,996 43.4 +11.0
Registered electors 9,235
Reform gain from Labour

Droylsden East

Droylsden East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Caroline England 1,683 48.9 N/A
Labour Susan Quinn* 803 23.3 −34.0
Green Archie Young 608 17.7 +5.4
Liberal Democrats James Lloyd 227 6.6 −3.7
Your Party Tony Wilson 123 3.6 N/A
Rejected ballots 21 0.6 -1.2
Turnout 3,444 39.6 +12.2
Registered electors 8,756
Reform gain from Labour

Droylsden West

Droylsden West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Sharon Barker 1,627 46.0 N/A
Labour Rebecca Callaghan 729 20.6 −39.7
Green Laura Rose 560 15.8 −2.8
Independent Ann Holland 353 10.0 N/A
Conservative Paul Molloy 151 4.3 −14.5
Liberal Democrats Joe Johnson 118 3.3 N/A
Rejected ballots 13 0.4 -1.9
Turnout 3,538 40.9 +13.3
Registered electors 8,692
Reform gain from Independent

Dukinfield

Dukinfield
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform James Rhodes 1,571 49.2 N/A
Labour John Taylor* 750 23.5 −36.9
Green Michael Harrison 657 20.6 −14.5
Conservative Adam Wolstenholme 218 6.8 N/A
Rejected ballots 9 0.3 -4.2
Turnout 3,196 35.1 +10.8
Registered electors 9,120
Reform gain from Labour

Dukinfield Stalybridge

Dukinfield Stalybridge
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Jake Frater 1,718 47.9 N/A
Labour Dave Sweeton* 858 23.9 −22.9
Green Matt Alloway 525 14.7 −4.1
Conservative Malcolm Smith 342 9.5 −22.9
Liberal Democrats Linda Freeman 140 3.9 N/A
Rejected ballots 4 0.1 -1.9
Turnout 3,583 40.5 +11.3
Registered electors 8,848
Reform gain from Labour

Hyde Godley

Hyde Godley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Mark Beese 1,287 35.8 N/A
Labour Betty Affleck* 769 21.4 −16.2
Green John Bradley 650 18.1 +0.6
Conservative Callum Percival 640 17.8 −25.9
Workers Party Faisal Nixon 245 6.8 N/A
Rejected ballots 12 0.3 -0.9
Turnout 3,591 42.1 +9.3
Registered electors 8,577
Reform gain from Labour

Hyde Newton

Hyde Newton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Sam Mooney 1,482 45.1 N/A
Labour Peter Robinson* 703 21.4 −30.7
Green Hannah Yates 609 18.5 N/A
Conservative Andrew Moss 224 6.8 −14.8
Independent Philip Fitzpatrick 136 4.1 N/A
Liberal Democrats Peter Ball-Foster 133 4.0 −8.9
Rejected ballots 9 0.3 -0.7
Turnout 3,287 35.6 +11.3
Registered electors 9,265
Reform gain from Labour

Hyde Werneth

Hyde Werneth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Christopher Stones 1,287 29.9 N/A
Conservative Andy Furnival 1,218 28.3 −9.7
Labour Shibley Alam* 947 22.0 −12.3
Green Chris Parr 796 18.5 +0.6
Independent Abdullah Imran 51 1.2 −8.2
Rejected ballots 18 0.4 –0.1
Turnout 4,299 45.2 +8.8
Registered electors 9,556
Reform gain from Labour

Longdendale

Longendale
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Greg McNally 1,581 45.5 N/A
Labour Francesca Coates 909 26.2 −33.2
Green Luke Robinson 555 16.0 −0.6
Conservative Roy Miller 306 8.8 −13.9
Liberal Democrats Lucas North 123 3.5 N/A
Rejected ballots 5 0.1 –1.2
Turnout 3,474 35.3 +8.6
Registered electors 9,868
Reform gain from Independent

Mossley

Mossley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Gary Roylance 1,625 39.3 N/A
Labour Taf Sharif* 1,551 37.5 −24.5
Green Simon Irving 697 16.9 −0.4
Conservative Daniel Percival 259 6.3 −12.9
Rejected ballots 9 0.2 –1.3
Turnout 4,132 46.8 +15.0
Registered electors 8,841
Reform gain from Labour

St Peter’s

St Peter’s
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Atta Ul-Rasool 1,352 36.7 −7.2
Independent Ahmed Mehmood 1,175 31.9 −24.2
Reform Gaynor Francis 864 23.5 N/A
Independent Marie Fairhurst 174 4.7 N/A
Independent Muhammad Ali 117 3.2 N/A
Rejected ballots 35 1.0 -1.8
Turnout 3,682 38.3 +6.7
Registered electors 9,705
Labour hold Swing Increase8.5

Stalybridge North

Stalybridge North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Liam Duff 1,748 47.7 N/A
Green Philip Wilson-Marks 973 26.6 N/A
Labour Adrian Pearce 708 19.3 −20.9
Conservative Jim Watson 235 6.4 −8.6
Rejected ballots 12 0.3 –0.5
Turnout 3,664 38.9 +10.3
Registered electors 9,444
Reform gain from Labour

Stalybridge South

Stalybridge South
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Reform Jenny Ardron-Adams 1,311 33.7 N/A
Conservative Liam Billington* 1,189 30.6 −17.8
Labour David McAllister 565 14.5 −23.1
Green Amanda Hickling 549 14.1 +0.1
Liberal Democrats Ian Sharkett 149 3.8 N/A
Independent Jane Valentine 101 2.6 N/A
Independent Mike Molloy 24 0.6 N/A
Rejected ballots 19 0.5 –0.3
Turnout 3,888 43.2 +12.0
Registered electors 9,039
Reform gain from Conservative

References

  1. ↑ Includes the vacant seat in Denton South last held by Labour.
  2. ↑ Of the 10 Independents before the election, 2 sat in the Independent Group and 8 were non-aligned.
  3. ↑ Vincent Ricci was also readmitted but resigned from the party.[10]
  4. ↑ Resigned from seat in November 2025. Seat left vacant until the 2026 election.
  5. ↑ Originally elected as Labour, but left the party to sit as an Independent in October 2025.
  6. ↑ Originally elected as Labour, but left the party to sit as an Independent in April 2025.
  1. ↑ "Tameside Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Open Council Data UK. Archived from the original on 9 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  2. ↑ "Manchester Evening News: Tameside local election results 2026 in full". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Tameside Council Composition: Latest". opencouncildata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Tameside Metropolitan Borough Election Results". tameside.moderngov.co.uk. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Carter, Gary (24 February 2025). "Tameside councillor announces shock resignation". Tameside Correspondent. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 Lythgoe, George; Carey, Declan (11 February 2025). "The 11 councillors suspended amid the Labour WhatsApp scandal". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  7. ↑ Carter, Gemma (15 February 2025). "Former Tameside Council leader suspended amid 'leaks' accusation". Tameside Correspondent. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Local Elections Archive Project — Longdendale Ward". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Carter, Gary (1 April 2025). "Tameside Labour councillor quits party in protest at welfare cuts". Tameside Correspondent. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Carter, Gary (21 August 2025). "Tameside councillor quits Labour after being 'thrown under the bus'". Tameside Correspondent. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  11. ↑ Boothroyd, David. "The Addled Byelections". Localcouncils.co.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  12. ↑ Lythgoe, George (8 October 2025). "'I'm too left wing for them' says Labour politician of 50 years after quitting". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "Notice of Vacancy - Denton South Ward" (PDF). Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  14. ↑ Carter, Gary (20 November 2025). "Droylsden councillor 'quits' Labour amid disillusionment at party and Angela Rayner MP". Tameside Correspondent. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "BBC News - Election 2011 - England council elections - Tameside". BBC News. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  16. ↑ "Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council Election Results 1973-2012" (PDF). Elections Centre. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  17. ↑ The Tameside (Electoral Changes) Order 2022.
  18. ↑ Abdi, Sundus (21 May 2026). "Five arrested as police investigate alleged electoral fraud in Tameside". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
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