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Swindon council election 2026 result: no overall control

Looking back, 7 May 2026: Swindon Borough Council was left under no overall control after the 7 May elections, with the Conservatives on 23 seats, Labour 19, Reform UK 14 and the Liberal Democrats 1.

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Looking backThis story covers news from . Swindo wrote it later from the published source, and published it on 12 November 2026. More from that day

Last updated: 12 November 2026

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GWR 4200 Class 4248 at Swindon Steam Railway Museum
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source (illustrative photo of the place, not of the event)

Swindon Borough Council was left with no party in overall control after the local elections of Thursday 7 May 2026, the council confirmed on Friday 8 May 2026. The votes were counted at STEAM Museum in Swindon.

All 57 seats were contested, the first time that had happened since 2012. A party needed 29 seats for a majority and none reached it.

How many seats did each party win?

Party Seats
Conservative 23
Labour 19
Reform UK 14
Liberal Democrats 1

The Green Party, independent candidates and the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition won no seats. Turnout was 43.7 per cent.

What happened next?

The result set the council's political make-up for the following four years. The council said councillors would discuss how it was to be run, in line with its constitution. The Leader, Cabinet, portfolio responsibilities and committee memberships were due to be confirmed at the Annual Council Meeting on Friday 22 May 2026.

Sam Mowbray, the council's Returning Officer, said: "This was the first time in 14 years that all seats on the Council were up for election."

She added: "Council services continue as normal following a no overall control election result."

Source: Swindon Borough Council.

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