Babergh Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · East of England · 32 seats in 24 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

Babergh Council is run by a Green / Independent / Liberal Democrats coalition. The council has 32 councillors in 24 wards. Seats by party: Other 9, Green 9, Conservative 7, Lib Dem 4, Reform 2, Labour 1. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

The government withdrew its plan to reorganise councils in Suffolk on 7 September 2026. Elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Source

Control

Seats by party

Green / Independent / Liberal Democrats Coalition

32 seats - 17 for a majority

Reform 2Labour 1Conservative 7Lib Dem 4Green 9Other 9

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Reform +2 Lib Dem −1 Green −1

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (32 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Green28.4%10

Conservative22.1%7

Lib Dem19.3%5

Other19.3%9

Labour10.9%1

Next election

6 May 2027

all 32 seats up, then every four years

Largest groups

Green 9, Independents and others 9

8 short of the 17 needed for a majority

Closest result

Hadleigh South

Independent won the last seat by 15 votes over Green, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Copdock & Washbrook

Reform gain from Lib Dem, 16 October 2025 (1 since 2021)

Constituencies

1 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

54%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeLib DemReformGreenIndependent

Coloured by the party holding most of the ward's seats today; where seats are split evenly, by the party with the higher share at the last election.

All 24 wards

Councillors and last results

Select a ward for its full results, candidates and last by-election.

Ward and councillors	Last election
Assington Lee Parker	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 49.8% lead 12.2 pts
Box Vale Bryn Hurren	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 64.0% lead 47.2 pts
Brantham Alastair McCraw	4 May 2023 Independent 77.7% lead 63.7 pts
Brett Vale John Ward	4 May 2023 Independent 39.7% lead 9.1 pts
Bures St Mary & Nayland Isabelle Reece	4 May 2023 Conservative 39.8% lead 5.4 pts
Capel St Mary John Whyman	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 79.0% lead 58.0 pts
Chadacre Michael Holt, Stephen Plumb	4 May 2023 Conservative 30.1% lead 1.4 pts
Copdock & Washbrook Marc Rowland	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 56.4% lead 26.9 pts
East Bergholt Sallie Davies	4 May 2023 Green 52.7% lead 28.3 pts
Ganges Derek Davis	4 May 2023 Independent 45.9% lead 17.8 pts
Great Cornard Peter Beer, Ruth Hendry, Mark Newman	4 May 2023 Green 30.4% lead 1.5 pts
Hadleigh North Simon Dowling	4 May 2023 Green 33.8% lead 4.5 pts
Hadleigh South Kathryn Grandon, Jane Carruthers	4 May 2023 Green 28.7% lead 2.2 pts
Lavenham Paul Clover, Margaret Maybury	4 May 2023 Conservative 42.0% lead 25.7 pts
Long Melford Elisabeth Malvisi, John Nunn	4 May 2023 Independent 40.0% lead 18.6 pts
North West Cosford Deborah Saw	4 May 2023 Green 83.1% lead 66.2 pts
Orwell Daniel Potter	4 May 2023 Green 63.4% lead 39.6 pts
South East Cosford Leigh Jamieson	4 May 2023 Green 88.9% lead 77.8 pts
Sproughton & Pinewood Helen Davies, Brian Riley	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 32.3% lead 1.4 pts
Stour Mary McLaren	4 May 2023 Independent 46.0% lead 23.8 pts
Sudbury North East Alison Owen	4 May 2023 Labour 37.7% lead 10.1 pts
Sudbury North West Tim Regester, Jessie Carter	4 May 2023 Green 46.2% lead 26.1 pts
Sudbury South East Adrian Osborne	4 May 2023 Independent 28.3% lead 2.3 pts
Sudbury South West Laura Smith	4 May 2023 Green 50.1% lead 27.0 pts

Assington

Lee Parker Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem49.8%

Conservative37.6%

Green12.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Lee Jonathan Parker Elected	Lib Dem	452	49.8%
Richard Mark Sunderland	Conservative	341	37.6%
Amy Aylett	Green	115	12.7%

Box Vale

Bryn Hurren Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem64.0%

Conservative16.8%

Green14.4%

Labour4.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Bryn David Hurren Elected	Lib Dem	684	64.0%
Fred Topham	Conservative	180	16.8%
Theresa Munson	Green	154	14.4%
Rupert Perry	Labour	51	4.8%

Brantham

Alastair McCraw Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent77.7%

Green14.0%

Labour8.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Alastair McCraw Elected	Independent	560	77.7%
Miriam Burns	Green	101	14.0%
Steven John Hunter	Labour	60	8.3%

Brett Vale

John Ward Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent39.7%

Conservative30.6%

Green13.7%

Labour8.9%

Lib Dem7.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
John Ward Elected	Independent	457	39.7%
Shaun Davis	Conservative	352	30.6%
Peter Lynn	Green	158	13.7%
Lindsay Jane Francis	Labour	102	8.9%
Benjamin Herbig	Lib Dem	81	7.0%

Bures St Mary & Nayland

Isabelle Reece Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative39.8%

Green34.4%

Lib Dem17.8%

Labour7.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Isabelle Reece Elected	Conservative	369	39.8%
Patrick Keith McKenna	Green	319	34.4%
Rain Welham-Cobb	Lib Dem	165	17.8%
Julian Mark Freeman	Labour	73	7.9%

Capel St Mary

John Whyman Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem79.0%

Green21.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
John Whyman Elected	Lib Dem	635	79.0%
Andrew David Iredale Jaswal	Green	169	21.0%

Chadacre

Michael Holt ReformStephen Plumb Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative30.1%

Independent28.7%

Green21.8%

Labour11.2%

Lib Dem8.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Michael John Holt Elected	Conservative	748
Stephen Albert Plumb Elected	Independent	712
Ralph Anthony Carpenter	Green	541
Polly Rodger-Brown	Green	314
Matthew Livingstone Marshall	Labour	278
Cheryl Anne Schmidt	Lib Dem	203

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Copdock & Washbrook

Marc Rowland Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem56.4%

Conservative29.5%

Green14.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
David Busby Elected	Lib Dem	591	56.4%
Christopher Hudson	Conservative	309	29.5%
Karen Marshall	Green	147	14.0%

Last by-election, 16 October 2025

Reform32.0%

Lib Dem28.9%

Green23.6%

Conservative13.9%

Labour1.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Marc Peter Rowland Elected	Reform	323	32.0%
Mark John-Harry Hurley	Lib Dem	292	28.9%
Miriam Burns	Green	238	23.6%
Harry Cansdale	Conservative	140	13.9%
Simon Andrew Whitney	Labour	17	1.7%

East Bergholt

Sallie Davies Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green52.7%

Independent24.4%

Conservative13.6%

Labour7.1%

Lib Dem2.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Sallie Jean Davies Elected	Green	546	52.7%
John Hinton	Independent	253	24.4%
Stephen Williams	Conservative	141	13.6%
Adrian James	Labour	74	7.1%
Lauren Alexandra De Banks	Lib Dem	22	2.1%

Ganges

Derek Davis Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent45.9%

Conservative28.1%

Green9.9%

Labour9.3%

Lib Dem6.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Derek Stephen Davis Elected	Independent	310	45.9%
Shane Andrew Rolin	Conservative	190	28.1%
Shazz Kennedy	Green	67	9.9%
Simon Andrew Whitney	Labour	63	9.3%
Paul Norman Woodcraft	Lib Dem	45	6.7%

Great Cornard

Mark Newman ConservativePeter Beer ConservativeRuth Hendry Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Green30.4%

Conservative28.9%

Labour23.8%

Lib Dem16.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ruth Anne Hendry Elected	Green	694
Mark David Newman Elected	Conservative	660
Peter Beer Elected	Conservative	658
Judith Wilson	Conservative	627
Emma Bishton	Labour	545
Kevin Graham	Labour	542
Tom Keane	Labour	450
Melanie Jane Boyce	Green	438
Heather James	Green	396
Marjorie Bark	Lib Dem	387

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Hadleigh North

Simon Dowling Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green33.8%

Conservative29.3%

Independent14.9%

Lib Dem11.8%

Labour10.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Simon Dowling Elected	Green	230	33.8%
Sian Elizabeth Dawson	Conservative	199	29.3%
Gordon Thomas McLeod	Independent	101	14.9%
David Trevor Butcher	Lib Dem	80	11.8%
Andy Kennedy	Labour	70	10.3%

Hadleigh South

Jane Carruthers GreenKathryn Grandon Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green28.7%

Independent26.5%

Conservative22.3%

Lib Dem13.3%

Labour9.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jane Margaret Carruthers Elected	Green	539
Kathryn Susanne Grandon Elected	Independent	498
Alex Parvu	Green	483
Alan Ferguson	Conservative	418
Duncan John Read	Lib Dem	250
Mark Heath	Labour	171

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Lavenham

Margaret Maybury ConservativePaul Clover Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative42.0%

Independent16.3%

Lib Dem15.8%

Green15.4%

Labour10.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Margaret Valerie Maybury Elected	Conservative	966
Paul John Clover Elected	Conservative	844
Clive William Arthey	Independent	376
Nigel Millen Adam	Lib Dem	363
Shaun Ashley Moffat	Green	355
Steve Nuttall	Green	256
Andrew Worpole	Labour	242

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Long Melford

Elisabeth Malvisi IndependentJohn Nunn Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent40.0%

Independent21.4%

Conservative14.9%

Green10.4%

Labour8.5%

Lib Dem4.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
John Michael Nunn Elected	Independent	1,069
Liz Malvisi Elected	Independent	571
Melanie Jane Barrett	Conservative	399
Fae Victoria Gilfillan	Green	279
Michael Fitzmaurice	Labour	228
Michael Chapman	Green	201
Alan William Scott	Lib Dem	124

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

North West Cosford

Deborah Saw Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green83.1%

Lib Dem16.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Deborah Saw Elected	Green	640	83.1%
Mark Whyman	Lib Dem	130	16.9%

Orwell

Daniel Potter Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green63.4%

Lib Dem23.8%

Labour12.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Daniel Grant Potter Elected	Green	509	63.4%
Chris Janes	Lib Dem	191	23.8%
Keith Raymond Wade	Labour	103	12.8%

South East Cosford

Leigh Jamieson Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green88.9%

Lib Dem11.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Leigh Walter Edward Jamieson Elected	Green	811	88.9%
Rebecca Louisa Simpson	Lib Dem	101	11.1%

Sproughton & Pinewood

Brian Riley ConservativeHelen Davies Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Lib Dem32.3%

Conservative30.9%

Green21.3%

Labour15.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Helen-Victoria Anne Davies Elected	Lib Dem	496
Brian Riley Elected	Conservative	474
Mary Jennifer Cook	Green	327
Mary Anne Manuel	Labour	237
Graham John Manuel	Labour	223
John Lyall	Green	176

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Stour

Mary McLaren Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent46.0%

Green22.2%

Lib Dem19.9%

Labour11.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Mary McLaren Elected	Independent	448	46.0%
Carrie Wheeler	Green	216	22.2%
James Robert Gilchrist	Lib Dem	194	19.9%
Tracy De Bernhardt Wood	Labour	116	11.9%

Sudbury North East

Alison Owen Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Labour37.7%

Independent27.6%

Conservative16.9%

Green10.3%

Lib Dem7.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Alison Owen Elected	Labour	176	37.7%
Jan Osborne	Independent	129	27.6%
Simon Barrett	Conservative	79	16.9%
Julie Fowles-Smith	Green	48	10.3%
Gareth Evans	Lib Dem	35	7.5%

Sudbury North West

Jessie Carter GreenTim Regester Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Green46.2%

Conservative20.1%

Lib Dem18.0%

Labour15.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Jessie Carter Elected	Green	800
Tim Regester Elected	Green	537
Nicholas James Younger	Conservative	348
Nigel Andrew Bennett	Lib Dem	312
Adrian Stohr	Labour	272
Matthew Olyver	Labour	265

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Sudbury South East

Adrian Osborne Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Independent28.3%

Labour26.0%

Green20.6%

Conservative17.7%

Lib Dem7.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Adrian Osborne Elected	Independent	187	28.3%
David Finnigan	Labour	172	26.0%
Debo Adams	Green	136	20.6%
Portia Berry-Kilby	Conservative	117	17.7%
Martin Bark	Lib Dem	49	7.4%

Sudbury South West

Laura Smith Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Green50.1%

Conservative23.1%

Labour20.2%

Lib Dem6.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Laura Ann Smith Elected	Green	414	50.1%
Jacky Rawlinson	Conservative	191	23.1%
Luke Cresswell	Labour	167	20.2%
Andrew John Welsh	Lib Dem	55	6.7%

Councillors

Changed party since the election

2 councillors now sit for a different party from the one they were elected for.

Ward	Councillor	Elected as	Now
Chadacre	Michael Holt	Conservative 2023	Reform
Orwell	Daniel Potter	Green 2023	Conservative

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

1 by-election since July 2021, 1 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
16 October 2025	Copdock & Washbrook	Reform gain from Lib Dem	32.0%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
South Suffolk	100%	Conservative	Conservative 34%

Share of the council: the proportion of its census neighbourhoods (2021 LSOAs) in each seat. The projection is PollCheck's demographic model at current polling, not a forecast.

People

Who lives in Babergh

92,342 residents in 40,199 households

Voted Leave in 2016

54% 2 above GB

Degree or higher

30% 4 below GB

No qualifications

17% 1 below GB

Own their home

71% 10 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

13% 4 below GB

Rent privately

15% 5 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

23% 8 below GB

Aged 65 and over

31% 9 above GB

GB figure. 2021 Census (Scotland: 2022): age as a share of residents aged 15 and over, qualifications of residents aged 16 and over, housing as a share of households. Leave: 2016 EU referendum, Electoral Commission results by counting area.

Similar

Councils most like this one

Mid SuffolkGreen (Majority)Isle of AngleseyPlaid Cymru South NorfolkConservative (Minority)Forest of DeanGreen (Minority)ShropshireLiberal Democrats (Majority)

Closest on the measures above: the 2016 Leave vote, age, qualifications and housing. Maps show which party holds each ward.

Sources

Sources and method

Seat totals and control: PollCheck council control tracker. Councillors: Open Council Data (CC BY-SA 4.0). Election results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), with some vote counts from DCLEAPIL, Leman (2025) (CC BY-SA 4.0), and corrections checked against councils' official declarations. Ward boundaries: Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Census: Office for National Statistics and National Records of Scotland.

Councillor lists and DCLEAPIL-derived vote counts on this page are available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

In wards electing more than one councillor, a party's share counts only its leading candidate (the Rallings and Thrasher method). Independents count individually. The lead is the gap between the top two parties' shares.