The 2026 Oldham Council election took place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 60 members of Oldham Council in Greater Manchester were contested.
Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control. Labour were the largest party and ran the council as a minority administration. At this election, Reform UK won 13 of the 20 seats being contested, making them the second largest party. Labour lost 8 seats but remained the largest party. The Oldham Group, a local party which had been formed in August 2025, became the third largest party, with ten seats. After the election, the incumbent Labour leader of the council, Arooj Shah, stood down. In the months after the election, a number of attempts were made to appoint a replacement leader of the council, but without success. Eventually, interim leadership arrangements were put in place in September 2026 where the different groups on the council took responsibility for leading on particular areas of policy rather than the council having a single appointed leader. These arrangements were said to be interim whilst work continued towards a political resolution which would allow for the appointment of a new leader of the council and cabinet.
Background Labour have traditionally formed the administration of Oldham Council. From its creation in 1973 to 2024, Labour have formed majority administrations apart from the periods between 1994 and 1995, 2000 and 2003 (when the Liberal Democrats became the largest single party), and 2007 and 2011 (having again been overtaken by the Liberal Democrats).
The 2024 election saw Labour lose four seats, and with it their majority on the council. Two independent councillors (both part of the Independent Group on the council) supported the incumbent Labour leader Arooj Shah in a confidence vote, allowing the Labour administration to continue as a minority. Two other groupings of independents existed following the election; the Oldham Group (consisting of ex-Conservatives and anti-Labour independents) and the Royton Independents (consisting of the two independent councillors for Royton South). The Oldham Group has since registered as a political party.
New ward boundaries were used for the 2023 election – this election was for the councillors who placed second in each of the twenty three-member wards.The Oldham (Electoral Changes) Order 2022 Labour defended eleven seats, the Liberal Democrats defended four, the Conservatives defended three, the Failsworth Independent Party defended one, and an independent candidate defended one.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election After 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats 27 26 18 0 3 16 N/A 9 10 9 9 6 8 6 4 2 2 1 14 5 5 Changes 2024–2026: January 2025: Graham Sheldon (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent August 2025: The Oldham Group Party formed – Shoab Akhtar (Independent), Zaheer Ali (Independent), Montaz Ali Azad (Independent), Naveed Chowan (Independent), Kamran Ghafoor (Independent), Nyla Ibrahim (Independent), Aisha Kouser (Independent), Graham Sheldon (Independent), and Abdul Wahid (Independent) join party September 2025: Sandra Ball (Independent), Lewis Quigg (Conservative), and Mark Wilkinson (Independent) join Reform March 2026: Marie Bashforth (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent
Summary
The election saw Reform gain 13 seats of the 20 contested, including victories against incumbents from all other parties represented on the council. Labour retained three seats and the Liberal Democrats held one (Saddleworth South). The Oldham Group lost one seat to Reform but gained two from Labour, and independent candidate Mohammed Mohib Abu Taleb gained a seat from Labour in Coldhurst.
Election result
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Alexandra Shaid Mushtaq Labour Yes Chadderton Central Nazrul Islam Labour Yes Chadderton North Colin McLaren Labour Yes Chadderton South Chris Goodwin Labour No Coldhurst Abdul Malik Labour Yes Crompton Louie Hamblett Liberal Democrats No Failsworth East Neil Hindle FIP Yes Failsworth West Peter Davis Labour Yes Hollinwood Abdul Wahid Oldham Group Yes Medlock Vale Junaid Hussain Labour Yes Royton North Christine Adams Conservative Yes Royton South Marie Bashforth Independent No Saddleworth North Luke Lancaster Conservative No Saddleworth South Helen Bishop Liberal Democrats Yes Saddleworth West & Lees Alicia Marland Liberal Democrats Yes Shaw Howard Sykes Liberal Democrats No St James Angela Cosgrove Labour Yes St Mary's Aftab Hussain Labour Yes Waterhead Peter Dean Labour No Werneth Fida Hussain Labour Yes
Ward results
Alexandra
Chadderton Central
Chadderton North
Chadderton South
Coldhurst
Crompton
Failsworth East
Failsworth West
Hollinwood
Medlock Vale
Royton North
Royton South
Saddleworth North
Saddleworth South
Saddleworth West and Lees
Shaw
St James'
St Mary's
Waterhead
Werneth
References