Burnley Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · North West · 45 seats in 15 wards · A third of seats elected in three years out of four · Next election 6 May 2027

Burnley Council is run by an Independent / Liberal Democrats / Green coalition. The council has 45 councillors in 15 wards. Seats by party: Reform 12, Other 10, Labour 10, Lib Dem 6, Green 3, Conservative 3, Restore Britain 1. The next election is on 6 May 2027.

A government plan to replace the councils in this area with four unitary councils was paused for review on 7 September 2026. Elections due in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries. Source

Control

Seats by party

Independent / Liberal Democrats / Green Coalition

45 seats - 23 for a majority

Reform 12Labour 10Conservative 3Lib Dem 6Green 3Restore Britain 1Other 10

Vote share at the 7 May 2026 election (15 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Reform43.3%11

Other13.5%3

Labour12.3%0

Lib Dem11.8%1

Conservative10.6%0

Green8.6%0

2026 election results for Burnley, ward by ward

Next election

6 May 2027

15 of 45 seats up, elected by thirds

Largest party

Reform 12

11 short of the 23 needed for a majority

Closest result

Coal Clough with Deerplay

Lib Dem won by 82 votes over Reform, 7 May 2026

Latest by-election

Lanehead

Independent gain from Labour, 4 November 2025 (4 since 2021)

Constituencies

1 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

67%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourLib 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 15 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Bank Hall Afrasiab Anwar, Lubna Khan, Sehrish Lone	7 May 2026 Independent 56.2% lead 25.2 pts
Briercliffe Margaret Lishman, Anne Kelly, Mark Poulton	7 May 2026 Reform 51.0% lead 10.9 pts
Brunshaw Josh Graham, Mark Townsend, Shaun Sproule	7 May 2026 Reform 57.4% lead 37.9 pts
Cliviger with Worsthorne Beki Hughes, Ivor Emo, Gavin Theaker	7 May 2026 Reform 51.6% lead 29.8 pts
Coal Clough with Deerplay Jacqueline Inckle, Gordon Birtwistle, Howard Baker	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 44.6% lead 4.8 pts
Daneshouse with Stoneyholme Nussrat Kazmi, Saeed Chaudhary, Shah Hussain	7 May 2026 Independent 57.1% lead 27.6 pts
Gannow Gemma Haigh, Charlie Briggs, Angela Radcliffe	7 May 2026 Reform 50.7% lead 25.9 pts
Gawthorpe John Harbour, Victoria Taylor, Barbara Dole	7 May 2026 Reform 54.9% lead 27.8 pts
Hapton with Park Alan Hosker, Joanne Broughton, Steve Keogh	7 May 2026 Reform 46.0% lead 11.6 pts
Lanehead Shiraz Ahmed, James Halstead, Andy Waddington	7 May 2026 Reform 32.1% lead 7.9 pts
Queensgate Mohammed Ishtiaq, Aurangzeb Ali, Zulkernehn Hayat	7 May 2026 Independent 54.9% lead 30.5 pts
Rosegrove with Lowerhouse Liam Thomson, Paul Reynolds, Ashley Brown	7 May 2026 Reform 56.9% lead 38.0 pts
Rosehill with Burnley Wood Bill Horrocks, Jeff Sumner, Margaret Brindle	7 May 2026 Reform 57.0% lead 41.7 pts
Trinity Martyn Hurt, Helen Bridges, Kev Shackell	7 May 2026 Reform 51.3% lead 15.3 pts
Whittlefield with Ightenhill Lee Ashworth, Chris Weekes, Don Whitaker	7 May 2026 Reform 47.8% lead 20.4 pts

Bank Hall

Afrasiab Anwar IndependentLubna Khan IndependentSehrish Lone Independent

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Independent56.2%

Reform31.0%

Labour12.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Afrasiab Anwar Elected	Independent	906	56.2%
Trevor Williams	Reform	500	31.0%
Mohammed Alkas Ali	Labour	206	12.8%

Briercliffe

Anne Kelly Lib DemMargaret Lishman Lib DemMark Poulton Reform

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform51.0%

Lib Dem40.1%

Labour6.2%

Conservative2.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Mark Poulton Elected	Reform	1,003	51.0%
Pippa Lishman	Lib Dem	788	40.1%
Pete Coles	Labour	122	6.2%
Susan Margaret Nutter	Conservative	54	2.7%

Brunshaw

Josh Graham ReformMark Townsend LabourShaun Sproule Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform57.4%

Green19.5%

Labour16.4%

Conservative6.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Josh Graham Elected	Reform	901	57.4%
Jack Launer	Green	306	19.5%
Millie Towers	Labour	257	16.4%
Maison McGowan-Doe	Conservative	107	6.8%

Cliviger with Worsthorne

Beki Hughes GreenGavin Theaker ReformIvor Emo Conservative

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform51.6%

Conservative21.8%

Green11.2%

Lib Dem7.9%

Labour7.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Gavin Theaker Elected	Reform	1,215	51.6%
Simon John Bonney	Conservative	514	21.8%
Affan Khan Burki	Green	263	11.2%
Frank Bartram	Lib Dem	187	7.9%
Gail Barton	Labour	176	7.5%

Coal Clough with Deerplay

Gordon Birtwistle Lib DemHoward Baker Lib DemJacqueline Inckle Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem44.6%

Reform39.8%

Labour9.6%

Conservative6.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Gordon Birtwistle Elected	Lib Dem	751	44.6%
Tom Pickup	Reform	669	39.8%
Jeffrey Slee	Labour	161	9.6%
Abbey Hartley	Conservative	101	6.0%

Daneshouse with Stoneyholme

Nussrat Kazmi IndependentSaeed Chaudhary IndependentShah Hussain Independent

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Independent57.1%

Lib Dem29.5%

Labour8.2%

Reform5.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Shah Hussain Elected	Independent	1,092	57.1%
Muhammad Shahid Mahmood	Lib Dem	564	29.5%
James David Harrison	Labour	157	8.2%
Eddie Kutavicius	Reform	99	5.2%

Gannow

Angela Radcliffe ReformCharlie Briggs Lib DemGemma Haigh Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform50.7%

Conservative24.8%

Labour12.5%

Green12.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Angela Radcliffe Elected	Reform	782	50.7%
Neil Mottershead	Conservative	382	24.8%
Daniel Sam Armitage	Labour	193	12.5%
Alex Hall	Green	186	12.1%

Gawthorpe

Barbara Dole LabourJohn Harbour LabourVictoria Taylor Reform

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform54.9%

Labour27.1%

Conservative9.1%

Green8.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Victoria Taylor Elected	Reform	856	54.9%
Alun Lewis	Labour	422	27.1%
Rhys Williams	Conservative	142	9.1%
Edward Lee Swift	Green	139	8.9%

Hapton with Park

Alan Hosker ReformJoanne Broughton ConservativeSteve Keogh Reform

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform46.0%

Conservative34.4%

Labour10.2%

Green9.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Steve Keogh Elected	Reform	883	46.0%
Jamie McGowan	Conservative	659	34.4%
Elaine Julie Cotterell	Labour	195	10.2%
Sue Price	Green	181	9.4%

Lanehead

Andy Waddington LabourJames Halstead ReformShiraz Ahmed Independent

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform32.1%

Independent24.2%

Lib Dem23.4%

Labour13.4%

Green6.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jim Halstead Elected	Reform	681	32.1%
Raf Ali	Independent	513	24.2%
Asif Raja	Lib Dem	495	23.4%
Sue Graham	Labour	285	13.4%
Andrew Robert Newhouse	Green	145	6.8%

Last by-election, 4 November 2025

Independent44.4%

Reform32.1%

Labour16.5%

Conservative3.8%

Green3.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Shiraz Ahmed Elected	Independent	706	44.4%
Gavin Theaker	Reform	510	32.1%
Millie Towers	Labour	262	16.5%
Dale Joseph Ferrier	Conservative	61	3.8%
Affan Khan Burki	Green	50	3.1%

Queensgate

Aurangzeb Ali IndependentMohammed Ishtiaq IndependentZulkernehn Hayat Independent

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Independent54.9%

Reform24.4%

Labour14.0%

Lib Dem6.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Zulkernehn Hayat Elected	Independent	936	54.9%
Felix Nowell	Reform	415	24.4%
Carol Lukey	Labour	239	14.0%
Javad Mokhammad	Lib Dem	114	6.7%

Last by-election, 4 November 2025

Independent55.7%

Reform19.7%

Labour10.9%

Green5.8%

Independent4.3%

Conservative3.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Musharaf Parvez Elected	Independent	679	55.7%
Victoria Fletcher	Reform	240	19.7%
Dylan Edward Rea	Labour	133	10.9%
Janet Hall	Green	71	5.8%
Javad Mokhammad	Independent	52	4.3%
Susan Margaret Nutter	Conservative	43	3.5%

Rosegrove with Lowerhouse

Ashley Brown LabourLiam Thomson ReformPaul Reynolds Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform56.9%

Labour18.9%

Green10.0%

Conservative9.2%

Lib Dem5.1%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Liam Thomson Elected	Reform	907	56.9%
Daniel Thomas Andrew Tierney	Labour	302	18.9%
Christopher Paul Bridges	Green	159	10.0%
Kate Mottershead	Conservative	146	9.2%
Arthur Gordon Lishman	Lib Dem	81	5.1%

Rosehill with Burnley Wood

Bill Horrocks LabourJeff Sumner ReformMargaret Brindle Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform57.0%

Green15.3%

Labour11.9%

Lib Dem9.2%

Conservative6.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jeff Sumner Elected	Reform	902	57.0%
Fin Hewitt	Green	242	15.3%
Laura Coles	Labour	189	11.9%
Kathryn Haworth	Lib Dem	146	9.2%
Dale Joseph Ferrier	Conservative	104	6.6%

Last by-election, 10 November 2022

Labour39.4%

Lib Dem38.4%

Conservative13.0%

Green9.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Bill Horrocks Elected	Labour	372	39.4%
Russell Neal	Lib Dem	363	38.4%
Maison McGowan-Doe	Conservative	123	13.0%
Tony Davis	Green	87	9.2%

Trinity

Helen Bridges GreenKev Shackell ReformMartyn Hurt Green

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform51.3%

Green36.0%

Labour12.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Kev Shackell Elected	Reform	610	51.3%
Julie Ann Hurt	Green	428	36.0%
Dylan Edward Rea	Labour	152	12.8%

Last by-election, 26 October 2023

Green59.5%

Labour28.0%

Conservative12.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Alex Hall Elected	Green	347	59.5%
Mubashar Lone	Labour	163	28.0%
Susan Margaret Nutter	Conservative	73	12.5%

Whittlefield with Ightenhill

Chris Weekes ReformDon Whitaker Restore BritainLee Ashworth Conservative

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform47.8%

Conservative27.4%

Green10.1%

Labour8.7%

Independent6.0%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Chris Weekes Elected	Reform	1,017	47.8%
Mike John Steel	Conservative	583	27.4%
Janet Hall	Green	215	10.1%
Charlie Allen Hindle	Labour	186	8.7%
Helen Frances Heap	Independent	128	6.0%

Next election

Seats up on 6 May 2027

15 of 45 seats are up. Seats held now, by party:

Independent 4 Labour 4 Lib Dem 3 Green 2 Conservative 2

Ward	Councillor whose term ends
Bank Hall	Sehrish Lone Independent
Briercliffe	Anne Kelly Lib Dem
Brunshaw	Mark Townsend Labour
Cliviger with Worsthorne	Beki Hughes Green
Coal Clough with Deerplay	Howard Baker Lib Dem
Daneshouse with Stoneyholme	Nussrat Kazmi Independent
Gannow	Charlie Briggs Lib Dem
Gawthorpe	John Harbour Labour
Hapton with Park	Joanne Broughton Conservative
Lanehead	Shiraz Ahmed Independent
Queensgate	Mohammed Ishtiaq Independent
Rosegrove with Lowerhouse	Paul Reynolds Labour
Rosehill with Burnley Wood	Margaret Brindle Labour
Trinity	Helen Bridges Green
Whittlefield with Ightenhill	Lee Ashworth Conservative

Term end dates from Open Council Data.

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

4 by-elections since July 2021, 3 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
4 November 2025	Lanehead	Independent gain from Labour
4 November 2025	Queensgate	Independent gain from Labour
30 October 2023	Trinity	Green hold	59.5%
10 November 2022	Rosehill with Burnley Wood	Labour gain from Conservative	39.4%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Burnley	100%	Labour	Labour 35%

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 Burnley

94,643 residents in 39,870 households

Voted Leave in 2016

67% 15 above GB

Degree or higher

24% 10 below GB

No qualifications

24% 6 above GB

Own their home

60% 1 below GB

Rent from a council or housing association

16% 1 below GB

Rent privately

24% 4 above GB

Aged 15 to 34

31% same as GB

Aged 65 and over

22% same as 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

HyndburnLabour (Minority)PendleIndependent / Liberal Democrats Coalition DoncasterLabour mayor North East LincolnshireReform UK (Minority)MansfieldLabour mayor

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.