The 2026 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election was held on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 57 members of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in Greater Manchester were contested.

Prior to the election, the council had been under Labour majority control for 47 years. At this election, the council went under no overall control. Reform UK won 18 of the 19 seats being contested, and overtook the Conservatives to become the second largest party on the council. Labour remained the largest party on the council, but were left four seats short of a majority. After the election, Labour managed to form a minority administration; Labour's incumbent leader of the council, Eleanor Wills, was reappointed to the role at the subsequent annual council meeting on 26 May 2026.

Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election After 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats 48 38 25 7 7 5 0 1 19 2 10 8 Vacant N/A Vacant1 Vacant N/A Changes 2024–2026: February 2025: Jacqueline North (Labour) resigns – by-election held April 2025 Ged Cooney, Allison Gwynne, George Jones, Charlotte Martin, Jack Naylor, George Newton, Claire Reid, Vincent Ricci, Denise Ward, and Brenda Warrington (Labour) suspended from party April 2025: Allan Hopwood (Reform) gains by-election from Labour Gary Ferguson (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent August 2025: Allison Gwynne, George Jones, Claire Reid, Denise Ward, and Brenda Warrington (Independent) readmitted to Labour October 2025: Ann Holland (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent November 2025: Claire Reid (Labour) resigns – seat left vacant until 2026 election Barrie Holland (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent

Summary

Background Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974. Aside from a brief period from 1976 to 1980, Labour had formed majority administrations. Each election has since 1980 had returned a Labour administration holding over 70% of the seats with the Conservatives forming the principal opposition for all but three elections. The 2024 election saw Labour lose 2 seats to independents and 1 seat to the Conservatives, but retain their majority.

Over the course of the 2024 to 2026 term, Labour fell to its lowest number of councillors in over 50 years. 10 Labour councillors were suspended during an investigation into offensive messages shared to a WhatsApp group, of which Andrew Gwynne MP was also a part. 5 of these were reinstated on the conclusion of the investigation, but a further 5 seats were lost through defections or resignations.

The 2023 election used a new set of ward boundaries. As such, this election will be for councillors elected with the second highest number of votes in each of the 57 three-member wards.The Tameside (Electoral Changes) Order 2022. Of the seats contested, Labour held 14, the Conservatives held 2, independents held 2, and one was vacant following the resignation of Labour councillor Claire Reid.

Police investigation Following the election, Greater Manchester Police arrested four men and a woman on suspicion of fraud offences related to allegations that fake independent candidates were entered into the election for the St Peter's ward to influence its outcome. The police said the arrests related to its investigation into the "process of how candidates were put forward and represented in the ward, and if this adhered to the relevant legislation and electoral procedures".

Election result Reform UK won 18 of the 19 seats contested while Labour retained control of St Peter's Ward. Labour remained the largest party but lost their majority on the council, which fell into no overall control.

Incumbents

Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Ashton Hurst Dan Costello Conservative No Ashton St Michael's Bill Fairfoull Labour Yes Ashton Waterloo Dave Howarth Labour No Audenshaw Nick Axford Labour Yes Denton North East Denise Ward Labour Yes Denton South Claire Reid Labour No Denton West Branda Warrington Labour Yes Droylsden East Susan Quinn Labour Yes Droylsden West Ann Holland Independent Yes Dukinfield John Taylor Labour Yes Dukinfield Stalybridge David Sweeton Labour Yes Hyde Godley Betty Affleck Labour Yes Hyde Newton Peter Robinson Labour Yes Hyde Werneth Shibley Alam Labour Yes Longdendale Gary Ferguson Independent No Mossley Tafheen Sharif Labour Yes St Peter's Warren Bray Labour No Stalybridge North Adrian Pearce Labour Yes Stalybridge South Liam Billington Conservative Yes

Ward results

Ashton Hurst

Ashton St Michael’s

Ashton Waterloo

Audenshaw

Denton North East

Denton South

Denton West

Droylsden East

Droylsden West

Dukinfield

Dukinfield Stalybridge

Hyde Godley

Hyde Newton

Hyde Werneth

Longdendale

Mossley

St Peter’s

Stalybridge North

Stalybridge South

References