Preston Council - Wards and Councillors

District council · North West · 48 seats in 16 wards · A third of seats elected in three years out of four · Next election 6 May 2027

Labour run Preston Council as a minority administration. The council has 48 councillors in 16 wards. Seats by party: Labour 22, Lib Dem 14, Reform 5, Conservative 3, Other 2, Green 2. 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

Labour (Minority)

48 seats - 25 for a majority

Reform 5Labour 22Conservative 3Lib Dem 14Green 2Other 2

Vote share at the 7 May 2026 election (16 seats, all wards)

ShareSeats won

Reform27.3%5

Lib Dem22.9%5

Labour21.0%4

Green16.6%2

Conservative10.8%0

Other1.3%0

2026 election results for Preston, ward by ward

Next election

6 May 2027

16 of 48 seats up, elected by thirds

Largest party

Labour 22

3 short of the 25 needed for a majority

Closest result

Lea & Larches

Reform won by 6 votes over Lib Dem, 7 May 2026

Latest by-election

Ashton

Lib Dem gain from Labour, 16 October 2025 (2 since 2021)

Constituencies

2 overlap

2024Now

Voted Leave in 2016

53%

GB 52%

Wards

Who holds each ward

LabourConservativeLib DemReformGreen

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 16 wards

Councillors and last results

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

Ward and councillors	Last election
Ashton James Hull, Ronan Hodgson, Elizabeth Atkins	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 33.5% lead 4.5 pts
Brookfield Sara Holmes, Rob Walsh, Naoimh McMahon	7 May 2026 Reform 42.5% lead 14.5 pts
Cadley John Potter, Julie Van Mierlo, Daniel Gregg	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 40.2% lead 10.6 pts
City Centre Carol Henshaw, Salim Desai, Veronica Balmer	7 May 2026 Green 39.7% lead 12.0 pts
Deepdale Zafar Coupland, Samir Vohra, Siraz Natha	7 May 2026 Labour 54.1% lead 25.9 pts
Fishwick & Frenchwood Valerie Wise, Yakub Patel, Martyn Rawlinson	7 May 2026 Labour 43.9% lead 13.1 pts
Garrison Peter Kelly, Amber Afzal, Freddie Bailey	7 May 2026 Labour 36.8% lead 7.8 pts
Greyfriars Michael Peak, Fiona Duke, Tony Raisbeck	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 45.1% lead 22.8 pts
Ingol & Cottam John Rutter, Ben Ward, Neil Darby	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 45.3% lead 15.5 pts
Lea & Larches Phil Crowe, Mark Jewell, Jemma Rushe	7 May 2026 Reform 39.2% lead 0.3 pts
Plungington Gabie Lowe, Matthew Brown, Nweeda Khan	7 May 2026 Green 35.1% lead 5.7 pts
Preston Rural East Daniel Nuttall, Harry Landless, Mark Bell	7 May 2026 Reform 32.3% lead 5.3 pts
Preston Rural North Daniel Guise, Stephen Thompson, Susan Whittam	7 May 2026 Reform 34.1% lead 1.8 pts
Ribbleton Pat Varty, Anna Hindle, Vasile Alecu	7 May 2026 Reform 47.1% lead 21.5 pts
Sharoe Green Connor Dwyer, George Kulbacki, Jack Singh	7 May 2026 Lib Dem 34.3% lead 11.8 pts
St Matthew's Javed Iqbal, Suleman Sarwar, Takhsin Akhtar	7 May 2026 Labour 36.1% lead 13.0 pts

Ashton

Elizabeth Atkins IndependentJames Hull LabourRonan Hodgson Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem33.5%

Reform29.0%

Labour17.1%

Green14.9%

Conservative5.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ronan Hodgson Elected	Lib Dem	836	33.5%
Lee Slater	Reform	723	29.0%
Andrew David MacLaren	Labour	428	17.1%
Rachel Gill	Green	373	14.9%
Keith Sedgewick	Conservative	136	5.4%

Last by-election, 16 October 2025

Lib Dem35.5%

Reform29.5%

Labour23.1%

Independent5.4%

Conservative3.3%

Independent3.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Ronan Hodgson Elected	Lib Dem	659	35.5%
Lee Slater	Reform	548	29.5%
Mark Francis Routledge	Labour	429	23.1%
Ann Cowell	Independent	101	5.4%
Kevin Brockbank	Conservative	61	3.3%
Aran Bailey	Independent	60	3.2%

Brookfield

Naoimh McMahon LabourRob Walsh ReformSara Holmes Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform42.5%

Labour28.0%

Green15.2%

Conservative7.5%

Lib Dem6.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Rob Walsh Elected	Reform	665	42.5%
Mel Close	Labour	437	28.0%
Robin Stewart Weston	Green	237	15.2%
Daniel Duckworth	Conservative	118	7.5%
Rebecca Potter	Lib Dem	106	6.8%

Cadley

Daniel Gregg Lib DemJohn Potter Lib DemJulie Van Mierlo Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem40.2%

Reform29.6%

Labour11.8%

Green10.9%

Conservative7.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Daniel Gregg Elected	Lib Dem	1,037	40.2%
Flo Emmanuel	Reform	762	29.6%
Isaac Oluwasuji Omopariola	Labour	304	11.8%
Jono Grisdale	Green	282	10.9%
Lakwinder Singh	Conservative	192	7.5%

City Centre

Carol Henshaw IndependentSalim Desai LabourVeronica Balmer Green

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Green39.7%

Labour27.7%

Reform17.3%

Conservative9.6%

Lib Dem5.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Tina Balmer Elected	Green	821	39.7%
Mark Francis Routledge	Labour	572	27.7%
Lorenzo More	Reform	357	17.3%
Andy Pratt	Conservative	199	9.6%
Sam Zhang-Peak	Lib Dem	119	5.8%

Deepdale

Samir Vohra LabourSiraz Natha LabourZafar Coupland Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Labour54.1%

Green28.2%

Reform10.2%

Lib Dem3.9%

Conservative3.6%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Zafar Coupland Elected	Labour	1,219	54.1%
Kevin David Rigotti	Green	636	28.2%
John Knight	Reform	231	10.2%
Nathalie Cain	Lib Dem	87	3.9%
Nigel Antony Lister	Conservative	82	3.6%

Fishwick & Frenchwood

Martyn Rawlinson LabourValerie Wise LabourYakub Patel Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Labour43.9%

Green30.8%

Reform15.5%

Conservative6.0%

Lib Dem3.8%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Valerie Wise Elected	Labour	846	43.9%
Christopher Soames	Green	594	30.8%
Stephen Gregson	Reform	298	15.5%
Ash Jariwala	Conservative	115	6.0%
Joanne Joyner	Lib Dem	73	3.8%

Garrison

Amber Afzal LabourFreddie Bailey LabourPeter Kelly Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Labour36.8%

Reform29.0%

Green13.3%

Conservative9.5%

Lib Dem9.0%

Independent2.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Amber Afzal Elected	Labour	983	36.8%
Simon Holmes	Reform	774	29.0%
Helen Disley	Green	356	13.3%
Al-Yasa Khan	Conservative	254	9.5%
Claire Craven	Lib Dem	239	9.0%
Aran Bailey	Independent	64	2.4%

Greyfriars

Fiona Duke Lib DemMichael Peak Lib DemTony Raisbeck Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem45.1%

Reform22.3%

Conservative11.1%

Labour11.1%

Green10.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Fiona Duke Elected	Lib Dem	1,258	45.1%
Simon Crowe	Reform	622	22.3%
Andrew Craig Bielas-Barnes	Conservative	309	11.1%
Joanne Afrin Black	Labour	309	11.1%
Jacob Bilsborrow	Green	294	10.5%

Ingol & Cottam

Ben Ward Lib DemJohn Rutter Lib DemNeil Darby Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem45.3%

Reform29.8%

Conservative10.2%

Green8.7%

Labour5.9%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Neil Darby Elected	Lib Dem	1,248	45.3%
David Preston	Reform	821	29.8%
Sarah Jane Hart	Conservative	281	10.2%
Toby Worth	Green	239	8.7%
Derek Barton	Labour	163	5.9%

Lea & Larches

Jemma Rushe ReformMark Jewell Lib DemPhil Crowe Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform39.2%

Lib Dem38.9%

Labour10.5%

Green7.7%

Conservative3.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jemma Louise Rushe Elected	Reform	829	39.2%
Sean Little	Lib Dem	823	38.9%
Bill Adams	Labour	222	10.5%
Keith Berry	Green	162	7.7%
Javaris Maharaj	Conservative	79	3.7%

Last by-election, 4 July 2024

Lib Dem38.8%

Labour34.5%

Independent15.0%

Conservative11.7%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Sean Little Elected	Lib Dem	1,210	38.8%
Mark Francis Routledge	Labour	1,077	34.5%
Ann Cowell	Independent	467	15.0%
Daniel Duckworth	Conservative	364	11.7%

Plungington

Gabie Lowe GreenMatthew Brown LabourNweeda Khan Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Green35.1%

Labour29.4%

Reform24.0%

Lib Dem5.9%

Conservative4.4%

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition1.2%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Gabie Lowe Elected	Green	641	35.1%
Pav Akhtar	Labour	538	29.4%
Susan Tracey Brown	Reform	438	24.0%
Ruth Van Mierlo	Lib Dem	108	5.9%
Frankie Kennedy	Conservative	81	4.4%
Penelope Dawber	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	22	1.2%

Preston Rural East

Daniel Nuttall ReformHarry Landless ConservativeMark Bell Conservative

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform32.3%

Conservative27.0%

Lib Dem16.8%

Green14.4%

Labour9.5%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Daniel Paul Nuttall Elected	Reform	1,172	32.3%
Steve Whittam	Conservative	980	27.0%
Liam Yip	Lib Dem	610	16.8%
Karen Kendall	Green	523	14.4%
Beth Moore	Labour	345	9.5%

Preston Rural North

Daniel Guise Lib DemStephen Thompson ReformSusan Whittam Conservative

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform34.1%

Lib Dem32.3%

Conservative17.8%

Green8.5%

Labour7.3%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Stephen Geoffrey Thompson Elected	Reform	983	34.1%
Rene Van Mierlo	Lib Dem	932	32.3%
Fay Elizabeth Whittam	Conservative	515	17.8%
Daniel Bennett	Green	244	8.5%
Lynne Brooks	Labour	212	7.3%

Ribbleton

Anna Hindle LabourPat Varty LabourVasile Alecu Reform

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Reform47.1%

Labour25.6%

Green15.1%

Conservative6.7%

Lib Dem5.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Vasile Alecu Elected	Reform	625	47.1%
Michael Christopher McGowan	Labour	340	25.6%
Dan Thompson	Green	200	15.1%
Tes Slater	Conservative	89	6.7%
Edward Craven	Lib Dem	72	5.4%

Sharoe Green

Connor Dwyer LabourGeorge Kulbacki Lib DemJack Singh Lib Dem

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Lib Dem34.3%

Reform22.5%

Conservative19.4%

Green12.4%

Labour11.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Jack Singh Elected	Lib Dem	975	34.3%
Brian Martin Ollerton	Reform	638	22.5%
Maxwell Green	Conservative	552	19.4%
Amy Strettle	Green	351	12.4%
Rick Seymour	Labour	323	11.4%

St Matthew's

Javed Iqbal LabourSuleman Sarwar LabourTakhsin Akhtar Labour

Last scheduled election, 7 May 2026

Labour36.1%

Independent23.1%

Reform17.4%

Green15.8%

Conservative4.1%

Lib Dem3.4%

Candidate	Party	Votes	Share
Takhsin Akhtar Elected	Labour	618	36.1%
Waqas Ahmed	Independent	396	23.1%
Charlie Craig Fitzpatrick	Reform	297	17.4%
Gareth Basterfield	Green	270	15.8%
Tayo Korede	Conservative	71	4.1%
Anita Murray	Lib Dem	59	3.4%

Next election

Seats up on 6 May 2027

16 of 48 seats are up. Seats held now, by party:

Labour 9 Lib Dem 3 Independent 2 Conservative 2

Ward	Councillor whose term ends
Ashton	Elizabeth Atkins Independent
Brookfield	Naoimh McMahon Labour
Cadley	John Potter Lib Dem
City Centre	Carol Henshaw Independent
Deepdale	Samir Vohra Labour
Fishwick & Frenchwood	Yakub Patel Labour
Garrison	Freddie Bailey Labour
Greyfriars	Tony Raisbeck Lib Dem
Ingol & Cottam	John Rutter Lib Dem
Lea & Larches	Phil Crowe Labour
Plungington	Matthew Brown Labour
Preston Rural East	Harry Landless Conservative
Preston Rural North	Susan Whittam Conservative
Ribbleton	Pat Varty Labour
Sharoe Green	Connor Dwyer Labour
St Matthew's	Javed Iqbal Labour

Term end dates from Open Council Data.

By-elections

Every council by-election since 2021

2 by-elections since July 2021, 2 of them gains.

Date	Ward	Result	Winner's share
16 October 2025	Ashton	Lib Dem gain from Labour	35.5%
4 July 2024	Lea & Larches	Lib Dem gain from Labour	38.8%

Parliament

Parliamentary constituencies

Constituency	Share of council	2024 winner	Projected now
Preston	80%	Labour	Labour 34%
Ribble Valley	20%	Labour	Labour 32%

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 Preston

147,835 residents in 59,641 households

Voted Leave in 2016

53% 1 above GB

Degree or higher

32% 2 below GB

No qualifications

19% 1 above GB

Own their home

58% 3 below GB

Rent from a council or housing association

18% 1 above GB

Rent privately

22% 2 above GB

Aged 15 to 34

37% 6 above GB

Aged 65 and over

18% 4 below 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

CoventryLabour (Minority)LeedsLabour (Minority)DerbyLabour (Minority)RushmoorLabour (Minority)SheffieldLabour / Green Coalition

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.