The 2021 North Northamptonshire Council election took place alongside nationwide local elections. The election was originally due to take place in May 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was the inaugural election for the unitary authority, which was created one month before in April 2021, after the merger of the four existing non-metropolitan districts of Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering, and Wellingborough. North Northamptonshire absorbed the functions of these districts, plus those of the abolished Northamptonshire County Council. All 26 wards elect 3 councillors each, resulting in 78 councillors being elected and 40 seats being required for a majority.
Summary
Election result
Results by Division Divisions here are sectioned by the area that formerly constituted their district councils.
Corby
East Northamptonshire
Kettering
Wellingborough
Changes 2021–2025 2021: Martin Griffiths left the Conservatives to sit as an independent. December 2021: Annabel de Capell Brooke (Conservative) resigned, with a by-election held in February 2022. February 2022: Charlie Best (Liberal Democrats) gained the Oundle seat from the Conservatives. November 2022: Kevin Thurland (Conservative) died, with a by-election held in February 2023. December 2022: David Jenney (Conservative) died, with a by-election held in March 2023. February 2023: Keli Watts (Labour) gained the Northall seat from the Conservatives. March 2023: Melanie Coleman (Conservative) held the Rushden South seat for her party. May 2023: David Sims left the Conservatives and joined Labour. January 2024: Mike Tebbutt (Conservative) died, with a by-election held in April 2024. March 2024: Cedwien Brown and Joseph Smyth left the Conservatives to sit as independents; Elliot Prentice left the Conservatives and joined Labour. April 2024: William McElhinney (Conservative) held the Desborough seat for his party. August 2024: Chris Smith-Haynes (Conservative) was disqualified for non-attendance after ill health prevented him from attending meetings, with a by-election held in October 2024; Ross Armour was suspended from Labour. October 2024: Alex Evelyn (Conservative) held the Burton and Broughton seat for his party. December 2024: Ross Armour, then sitting as an independent, resigned and the seat was left vacant until the 2025 election; Martin Griffiths (independent) and Ken Harrington (Conservative) joined Reform UK. January 2025: Charlie Best (Liberal Democrats) resigned and the seat was left vacant until the 2025 election; Cedwien Brown rejoined the Conservatives; Matt Binley was suspended from the Conservatives. March 2025: Kirk Harrison and Jan O'Hara left the Conservatives and joined Reform UK.
By-elections
Oundle
The by-election followed the resignation of Conservative councillor Annabel de Capell Brooke.
Northall
The by-election followed the death of Conservative councillor Kevin Thurland.
Rushden South
The by-election followed the death of Conservative councillor David Jenney.
Desborough
The by-election followed the death of Conservative councillor Mike Tebbutt.
Burton and Broughton
The by-election followed the disqualification of Conservative councillor Chris Smith-Haynes for non-attendance after ill health prevented him from attending meetings.
References