Local Council By-Elections June 2026

This month saw 98,917 votes cast in 43 local authority contests. All percentages are rounded to the nearest single decimal place. 19 council seats changed hands. For comparison with May's results, see here.

Party	Number of Candidates	Total Vote	%	+/- May	+/- Jun 25	Avge/ Contest	+/- Seats
Conservative	44	15,627	15.8%	-3.0	+1.0	355	-1
Labour	40	17,824	18.0%	+6.1	+0.7	446	-3
Lib Dem	34	19,055	19.3%	-1.0	+2.1	560	-3
Reform	46	23,974	24.2%	-4.1	-7.0	521	+4
Green	41	13,527	13.7%	-2.4	+3.8	330	+2
SNP*	2	1,035	1.0%	+1.0	-0.5	518	+1
PC**	10	3,624	3.7%	+3.4	+3.7	362	0
Ind***	20	3,544	3.8%	-0.3	-3.5	177	0
Other****	6	707	0.7%	+0.1	+0.0	118	0

* There were two by-elections in Scotland
** There were 11(!) by-elections in Wales
*** There were three Independent clashes this month
**** Others in June were Alliance to Liberate Scotland (13), Libertarian (3), TUSC (31, 31), Workers' Party of Britain (609), Your Party (20)

To say it might be to jinx it. But is that a small sign of a Labour revival? It's hard to say, but that Labour turned in better than expected performances on the 25th's by-elections might, might suggest Keir Starmer's resignation statement has already boosted the party's vote. We'll see what happens between now and when Andy Burnham assumes office, but that Labour experience immediate relief at the polls as soon as the Prime Minister announces his departure should focus the minds of the galaxy brains that have pushed Starmer to the front rank of politics. Obviously, what happens depends greatly on the first impression Burnham gives in office. If it's bad then any recovery in Labour's numbers will be short-lived.

Not a stellar performance from Reform this month. They still win, hauling the most new councillors and the highest popular vote, but significantly down on this time last year might say a few things. Are people getting fed up of their antics, or are voters for other parties showing Gorton and Denton/Makerfield levels of nous at council by-elections, or are they delivering verdicts on Reform's inability to hold on to elected reps for long? Then again, the Greens don't appear to be suffering from that affliction, despite sharing similar difficulties over quick resignations.

Also, congratulations are due to Plaid Cymru for fielding the most amount of candidates in their by-election history this month, awarding them with their highest proportion of the vote ever. They held most of their seats, losing one and gaining one. Not a great month for the Liberal Democrats though, despite a decent tally on the doors. Where were all their candidates? Lastly, but not leastly, June was the first time Your Party contested a by-election under its own name. And as a measure of how much energy has been squandered, this once-promising project managed 20 votes. Behind TUSC.

4 June
City of London, Coleman Street, Ind hold
Westmorland & Furness, Hawcoat & Newbarns, Ref gain from Con

11 June
Cheshire West & Chester, Christleton & Huntington, Con hold
Dacorum, Apsley & Corner Hall, LDem hold
Slough, Cippenham Green, Grn gain from Con

18 June
Bradford, Idle & Thackley, LDem hold x3
Bury, Moorside, Lab hold
Conwy, Gogarth Mostyn, Ref gain from Con
Conwy, Tudno, Ref gain from Con
Essex, Rayleigh West, Con gain from Ref
Essex, Chelmsford Springfield, LDem hold
Hillingdon, Hillingdon West, Con hold x2
Lewisham, Crofton Park, Grn hold
New Forest, Bransgore, Burley, Sopley & Ringwood East, Con hold
Rochford, Sweyne Park & Grange, Con gain from Ref
Swansea, Morriston, Lab hold
Swansea, Mumbles, Con hold
Wrexham, Acton & Maesydre, PC hold
Wrexham, Grosvenor, PC hold
Wrexham, Queensway, PC hold

25 June
Aberdeen, George St/Harbour, SNP gain from LDem
Brighton & Hove, Goldsmid, Grn gain from Lab
Cambridgeshire, Roman Bank & Peckover, Ref hold
Carmarthenshire, Llangennech, PC gain from Ref
Denbighshire, Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch, Ind gain from PC
Denbighshire, Rhyl South, Ref gain from Lab
Ealing, North Acton, Grn hold
Hackney, Hackney Central, Grn hold
Hackney, Dalston, Grn hold
Halton, Farnworth, Lab hold
Haringey, Northumberland Park, Lab gain from Grn
Haringey, Woodside, Grn gain from Lab
Hertsmere, Bushey Park, Con gain from LDem
Highland, East Sutherland & Edderton, Ind hold
Merthyr Tydfil, Dowlais & Pant, Lab gain from Ind
Nuneaton and Bedworth, Camp Hill, Ref gain from Lab
Rhondda Cynon Taf, Treorcy, PC hold
St Helens, Haydock, Ref hold
St Helens, St Helens Town Centre, Ref gain from Lab, Lab hold
Staffordshire, Stretton, Ref hold
Tamworth, Wilnecote, Ref gain from Con
Teignbridge, Dawlish South West, LDem hold
Uttlesford, Stort Valley, Con gain from LDem

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