The 2026 Rochdale Borough Council election took place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 60 members of Rochdale Borough Council in Greater Manchester were elected.
Labour retained overall control of the council, but with a significantly reduced majority. Reform UK won most seats at this election, becoming the second largest party on the council.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 44 43 9 8 3 3 2 2 2 2 0 2 Changes 2024–2026: August 2024: John Taylor (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent September 2024: Peter Allonby (Middleton Independents) disqualified due to non-attendance – by-election held October 2024 October 2024: Keeley O'Mara (Middleton Independents) wins by-election March 2025: Elsie Blundell (Labour) resigns – by-election held May 2025 May 2025: Jordan Tarrant-Short (Reform) gains by-election from Labour July 2025: John Taylor (Independent) joins Reform
Background Like much of Greater Manchester, Labour has historically been strong in Rochdale. The Conservatives briefly held a majority in 1976, and the Liberal Democrats were the largest party from 2004 to 2011; aside from these periods, Labour has formed the administration of the council as either a majority or minority. The 2024 election saw Labour lose two seats to the Workers Party of Britain, following on from George Galloway's victory in the parliamentary by-election earlier in 2024, and retain a seat gained through a defection from the Middleton Independents Party. No other seats changed hands.
A new set of ward boundaries was used for the 2022 election. This election will be for the councillors elected with the highest number of votes in each of the twenty three-member wards.The Rochdale (Electoral Changes) Order 2021 Labour are defending fourteen seats, the Conservatives are defending three, the Middleton Independents are defending two, and the Liberal Democrats are defending one.
Summary
Election result
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Balderstone & Kirkholt Philip Massey Labour Yes Bamford Angela Smith Conservative Yes Castleton Billy Sheerin Labour Yes Central Rochdale Iftikhar Ahmed Labour Yes East Middleton Paul Beswick Middleton Ind. Yes Healey Shaun O'Neill Labour Yes Hopwood Hall Susan Emmott Labour Yes Kingsway Shakil Ahmed Labour Yes Littleborough Lakeside Janet Emsley Labour Yes Milkstone & Deeplish Mohammed Arshad Labour Yes Milnrow & Newhey Irene Davidson Liberal Democrats Yes Norden James Gartside Conservative No North Heywood Liam O'Rourke Labour No North Middleton Keeley O'Mara Middleton Ind. Yes Smallbridge & Firgrove Aftab Hussain Labour Yes South Middleton Peter Williams Labour Yes Spotland & Falinge Iram Faisal Labour Yes Wardle, Shore & WestLittleborough Ashley Dearnley Conservative No West Heywood Angela Brown Labour Yes West Middleton Phil Burke Labour Yes
Ward results
Balderstone & Kirkholt
Bamford
Castleton
Central Rochdale
East Middleton
Healey
Hopwood Hall
Kingsway
Littleborough Lakeside
Milkstone and Deeplish
Milnrow and Newhey
Norden
North Heywood
North Middleton
Smallbridge and Firgrove
South Middleton
Spotland and Falinge
Wardle, Shore and West Littleborough
West Heywood
West Middleton
References