Breckland Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · East of England · 49 seats in 27 wards · All seats elected every four years · Next election 6 May 2027

The Conservatives have a majority on Breckland Council. The council has 49 councillors in 27 wards. Seats by party: Conservative 29, Labour 9, Reform 5, Other 5, Green 1. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

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

Control

Seats by party

Conservative (Majority)

49 seats - 25 for a majority

Reform 5Labour 9Conservative 29Green 1Other 5

Seat changes since the 4 May 2023 election Reform +5 Conservative −1 Lib Dem −1 Labour −3

Vote share at the 4 May 2023 election (49 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Conservative37.5%30

Labour25.2%12

Other24.6%5

Green6.6%1

Lib Dem5.3%1

Reform0.8%0

Next election

6 May 2027

all 49 seats up, then every four years

Largest party

Conservative 29

majority of 9; 25 needed

Closest result

Swaffham

Independent won the last seat by 3 votes over Conservative, 4 May 2023

Latest by-election

Dereham Toftwood

Conservative gain from Labour, 16 July 2026 (7 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

64%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeReformIndependent

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 27 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
All Saints & Wayland Philip Cowen, Sarah Suggitt	4 May 2023 Conservative 47.7% lead 12.5 pts
Ashill Fabian Eagle	4 May 2023 Conservative 69.6% lead 52.2 pts
Attleborough Burgh & Haverscroft Taila Taylor, Stephen Fraser	4 May 2023 Conservative 46.4% lead 13.8 pts
Attleborough Queens & Besthorpe Samantha Taylor, Tristan Ashby, Rhodri Oliver	4 May 2023 Conservative 39.8% lead 11.7 pts
Bedingfeld Scott Hussey	4 May 2023 Conservative 52.6% lead 25.5 pts
Dereham Neatherd William Richmond, Alison Webb, Linda King	4 May 2023 Conservative 31.4% lead 5.3 pts
Dereham Toftwood Stuart Green, Kendra Cogman	4 May 2023 Labour 52.5% lead 5.0 pts
Dereham Withburga Ray O'Callaghan, Harry Clarke	4 May 2023 Labour 68.6% lead 37.2 pts
Forest Robert Kybird, Sam Chapman-Allen	4 May 2023 Conservative 68.4% lead 36.8 pts
Guiltcross Marion Chapman-Allen	4 May 2023 Conservative 53.5% lead 7.0 pts
Harling & Heathlands William Nunn	4 May 2023 Conservative 64.2% lead 28.4 pts
Hermitage Robin Hunter-Clarke	4 May 2023 Lib Dem 41.1% lead 2.4 pts
Launditch Mark Kiddle-Morris	4 May 2023 Conservative 51.8% lead 22.6 pts
Lincoln Roger Atterwill, Richard Duffield	4 May 2023 Independent 48.2% lead 17.6 pts
Mattishall Paul Claussen, Paul Plummer	4 May 2023 Conservative 36.2% lead 3.2 pts
Nar Valley Peter Wilkinson	4 May 2023 Conservative 61.5% lead 23.0 pts
Necton Nigel Wilkin	4 May 2023 Conservative 50.9% lead 1.8 pts
Saham Toney Peter Bate, Helen Crane	4 May 2023 Conservative 56.3% lead 12.6 pts
Shipdham-with-Scarning Paul Hewett, Lynda Turner	4 May 2023 Conservative 38.4% lead 7.7 pts
Swaffham Jacob Morton, David Wickerson, Judy Anscombe	4 May 2023 Independent 26.9% lead 2.3 pts
The Buckenhams & Banham Stephen Askew	4 May 2023 Conservative 59.9% lead 19.8 pts
Thetford Boudica Terry Land, Stuart Terry	4 May 2023 Labour 47.2% lead 16.9 pts
Thetford Burrell Chris Harvey, David Blackbourn	4 May 2023 Labour 41.3% lead 19.2 pts
Thetford Castle Grahame Middleton, Annie Blackbourn	4 May 2023 Labour 38.1% lead 12.1 pts
Thetford Priory Mike Brindle, Michael Westman	4 May 2023 Labour 46.7% lead 23.0 pts
Upper Wensum Bill Borrett, Gordon Bambridge	4 May 2023 Conservative 53.5% lead 7.0 pts
Watton Claire Bowes, Tina Kiddell, Keith Gilbert	4 May 2023 Independent 27.4% lead 3.2 pts

All Saints & Wayland

Philip Cowen ConservativeSarah Suggitt Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative47.7%

Lib Dem35.2%

Labour17.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sarah Elizabeth Suggitt Elected	Conservative	848
Phil Cowen Elected	Conservative	790
Ian Minto	Lib Dem	626
Ulrike Corinna Behrendt	Lib Dem	504
Ed Szczepanowski	Labour	305
Prue Szczepanowski	Labour	301

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Ashill

Fabian Eagle Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative69.6%

Labour17.4%

Green13.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Fabian Royston Eagle Elected	Conservative	549	69.6%
Nicola Joanne Newell	Labour	137	17.4%
Anne Patricia Melba Rix	Green	103	13.1%

Attleborough Burgh & Haverscroft

Stephen Fraser IndependentTaila Taylor Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative46.4%

Independent32.6%

Labour21.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Taila Joan Taylor Elected	Conservative	613
Stephen Paul Fraser Elected	Independent	431
Michelle Julie Barron	Conservative	378
David Hodgkinson	Labour	278
Tom Stewart	Labour	244

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Attleborough Queens & Besthorpe

Rhodri Oliver ConservativeSamantha Taylor ConservativeTristan Ashby Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative39.8%

Labour28.1%

Independent23.8%

Reform8.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sam Taylor Elected	Conservative	685
Tristan John Ashby Elected	Conservative	685
Rhodri Oliver Elected	Conservative	558
Marcia Solloway-Brown	Labour	484
Paul Smith	Labour	421
Vic Peters	Labour	410
Debbie Lane	Independent	409
Kabeer Kher	Reform	142

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Bedingfeld

Scott Hussey Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative52.6%

Labour27.1%

Independent20.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ian Sherwood Elected	Conservative	377	52.6%
Doug Jefferson	Labour	194	27.1%
Ruth Louise Hargreaves	Independent	146	20.4%

Last by-election, 27 February 2025

Reform54.3%

Conservative27.4%

Labour13.0%

Green5.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Scott Hussey Elected	Reform	414	54.3%
Paula Ann Wood	Conservative	209	27.4%
Doug Jefferson	Labour	99	13.0%
Timothy Soar	Green	41	5.4%

Dereham Neatherd

Alison Webb ConservativeLinda King ConservativeWilliam Richmond Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Conservative31.4%

Green26.1%

Independent21.6%

Labour21.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Alison Mary Webb Elected	Conservative	828
Linda Monument Elected	Conservative	744
William Richmond Elected	Conservative	701
Philip Neil Morton	Green	688
Zoe Flint	Independent	569
Issy Myhill	Labour	555
Howard Hawkes	Labour	475

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Dereham Toftwood

Kendra Cogman LabourStuart Green Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour52.5%

Conservative47.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Kendra Cogman Elected	Labour	572
Sarah Taylor Elected	Labour	555
Stuart Richard Green	Conservative	518
Phillip James Duigan	Conservative	512

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 16 July 2026

Conservative45.8%

Reform36.9%

Labour17.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Stuart Richard Green Elected	Conservative	458	45.8%
Gokce Schuler	Reform	369	36.9%
Robin Frederick Goreham	Labour	172	17.2%

Dereham Withburga

Harry Clarke LabourRay O'Callaghan Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour68.6%

Conservative31.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Harry Clarke Elected	Labour	665
Ray O'Callaghan Elected	Labour	574
Robin Hunter-Clarke	Conservative	305
Judy Rogers	Conservative	263

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Forest

Robert Kybird ConservativeSam Chapman-Allen Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative68.4%

Labour31.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Sam Chapman-Allen Elected	Conservative	469
Robert Kybird Elected	Conservative	455
Viola Ross-Smith	Labour	217
Matthew Stirrup	Labour	193

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Guiltcross

Marion Chapman-Allen Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative53.5%

Labour46.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Marion Chapman-Allen Elected	Conservative	479	53.5%
Liz Bernard	Labour	416	46.5%

Harling & Heathlands

William Nunn Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative64.2%

Labour35.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
William Nunn Elected	Conservative	498	64.2%
Hayley Balster	Labour	278	35.8%

Hermitage

Robin Hunter-Clarke Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Lib Dem41.1%

Conservative38.7%

Labour20.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Mitchell Thurbon Elected	Lib Dem	316	41.1%
Robert Hambidge	Conservative	297	38.7%
John Peter Barnard	Labour	155	20.2%

Last by-election, 2 May 2024

Conservative40.5%

Lib Dem37.8%

Labour21.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Robin Hunter-Clarke Elected	Conservative	313	40.5%
Ian Minto	Lib Dem	292	37.8%
Joe Sisto	Labour	168	21.7%

Launditch

Mark Kiddle-Morris Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative51.8%

Lib Dem29.2%

Labour19.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Mark Alexander Kiddle-Morris Elected	Conservative	378	51.8%
Matt Weatherill	Lib Dem	213	29.2%
Paul Richard Siegert	Labour	139	19.0%

Lincoln

Richard Duffield ConservativeRoger Atterwill Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Independent48.2%

Conservative30.6%

Labour21.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Roger David Atterwill Elected	Independent	958
Richard Duffield Elected	Conservative	607
Danielle Glavin	Labour	421
Paula Ann Wood	Conservative	389

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Mattishall

Paul Claussen ConservativePaul Plummer Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative36.2%

Labour33.0%

Green30.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul Claussen Elected	Conservative	680
Paul Jonathan Plummer Elected	Conservative	633
Bob Burrell	Labour	620
Ann Patricia Robertson Bowyer	Green	580

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Nar Valley

Peter Wilkinson Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative61.5%

Labour38.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Peter Samuel Wilkinson Elected	Conservative	455	61.5%
Cliff Wilson	Labour	285	38.5%

Necton

Nigel Wilkin Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative50.9%

Labour49.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Nigel Wilkin Elected	Conservative	397	50.9%
Joe Sisto	Labour	383	49.1%

Saham Toney

Helen Crane ConservativePeter Bate Green

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative56.3%

Green43.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Helen Crane Elected	Conservative	674
Peter Kevin Bate Elected	Green	523
David Robert Mullenger Sawyer	Conservative	407

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Shipdham-with-Scarning

Lynda Turner ConservativePaul Hewett Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative38.4%

Labour30.7%

Green19.0%

Reform12.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Paul Hewett Elected	Conservative	549
Lynda Turner Elected	Conservative	502
Timothy Philip Kinnaird	Labour	438
Michael Christopher O'Neil	Labour	353
Geoffrey Gilbert Plank	Green	271
Scott Daynes	Reform	171

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Swaffham

David Wickerson IndependentJacob Morton ConservativeJudy Anscombe Independent

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent26.9%

Conservative24.6%

Independent24.3%

Independent24.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Judy Anscombe Elected	Independent	925
Jacob Morton Elected	Conservative	847
David Sydney Wickerson Elected	Independent	838
Paul Darby	Conservative	835
Bob Wade	Independent	832
Leanne Smart	Conservative	781

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

The Buckenhams & Banham

Stephen Askew Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023

Conservative59.9%

Labour40.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Stephen Askew Elected	Conservative	486	59.9%
Barry Sumner	Labour	326	40.1%

Thetford Boudica

Stuart Terry LabourTerry Land Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour47.2%

Conservative30.3%

Independent11.5%

Independent11.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Stuart Terry Elected	Labour	505
Terry Land Elected	Labour	477
Barbara Joyce Tullett	Conservative	324
Zak Marketis	Independent	123
Philip Reynolds	Independent	118

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Thetford Burrell

Chris Harvey LabourDavid Blackbourn Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour41.3%

Independent22.1%

Independent19.5%

Independent17.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Chris Harvey Elected	Labour	546
David Blackbourn Elected	Labour	470
Carla Barreto	Independent	293
Geoff Mealing	Independent	258
Bob Seys	Independent	226

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Thetford Castle

Annie Blackbourn LabourGrahame Middleton Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour38.1%

Conservative26.0%

Independent13.0%

UKIP12.5%

Independent10.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Ann Blackbourn Elected	Labour	465
Hazel McCambridge Elected	Labour	414
Jane Lillian James	Conservative	318
Roy Brame	Conservative	305
Kirstie Robb	Independent	159
Denis Melvin Crawford	UKIP	153
Ijaz Karim	Independent	126

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 24 September 2025

Reform47.3%

Labour26.7%

Conservative15.1%

Lib Dem10.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Grahame Middleton Elected	Reform	512	47.3%
Liz Bernard	Labour	289	26.7%
Jane Lillian James	Conservative	164	15.1%
Ian Minto	Lib Dem	118	10.9%

Thetford Priory

Michael Westman ReformMike Brindle Labour

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Labour46.7%

Independent23.7%

Independent14.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Terry Jermy Elected	Labour	629
Mike Brindle Elected	Labour	551
Ron Wood	Independent	320
Gordon Margrie	Independent	200
Mark Petrie Taylor	Independent	199

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Last by-election, 1 May 2025

Reform45.3%

Labour29.5%

Conservative16.8%

Green4.6%

Lib Dem3.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Mike Westman Elected	Reform	449	45.3%
Doug Jefferson	Labour	292	29.5%
Jane Lillian James	Conservative	166	16.8%
Timothy Soar	Green	46	4.6%
Ian Minto	Lib Dem	38	3.8%

Upper Wensum

Bill Borrett ConservativeGordon Bambridge Conservative

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (2 seats)

Conservative53.5%

Lib Dem46.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Gordon Bambridge Elected	Conservative	946
Bill Borrett Elected	Conservative	917
Mark Foley	Lib Dem	823
Roger Keith Norman	Lib Dem	688

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

Watton

Claire Bowes ConservativeKeith Gilbert IndependentTina Kiddell Reform

Last scheduled election, 4 May 2023 (3 seats)

Independent27.4%

Conservative24.2%

Independent14.7%

Independent14.2%

Labour10.4%

Green9.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes
Keith Stephen Gilbert Elected	Independent	903
Claire Rosemary Bowes Elected	Conservative	798
Tina Kiddell Elected	Conservative	770
Pat Warwick	Independent	485
Gillian Lee Turrant	Independent	466
Brian English	Labour	341
Andrew Dujon	Labour	303
Jane Keidan-Cooper	Green	299
Barry John Hale	Labour	285

Party shares count each party's leading candidate.

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
Hermitage	Robin Hunter-Clarke	Conservative 2024	Reform
Watton	Tina Kiddell	Conservative 2023	Reform

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

7 by-elections since July 2021, 6 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
16 July 2026	Dereham Toftwood	Conservative gain from Labour	45.8%
24 September 2025	Thetford Castle	Reform gain from Labour	47.3%
1 May 2025	Thetford Priory	Reform gain from Labour	45.3%
27 February 2025	Bedingfeld	Reform gain from Conservative	54.3%
9 May 2024	Hermitage	Conservative gain from Lib Dem	40.5%
14 July 2022	Thetford Boudica	Labour gain from Conservative
22 June 2022	Mattishall	Conservative hold

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Mid Norfolk	61%	Conservative	Conservative 36%
South West Norfolk	39%	Labour	Reform 33%

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 Breckland

141,476 residents in 60,354 households

Voted Leave in 2016

64% 12 above GB

Degree or higher

23% 11 below GB

No qualifications

22% 4 above GB

Own their home

67% 6 above GB

Rent from a council or housing association

14% 3 below GB

Rent privately

18% 2 below GB

Aged 15 to 34

25% 6 below GB

Aged 65 and over

30% 8 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

King's Lynn and West NorfolkIndependent / Liberal Democrats / Green Coalition Wyre ForestConservative (Majority)North LincolnshireConservative (Majority)BassetlawLabour (Majority)DoverLabour (Minority)

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.