The 2026 Gosport Borough Council election was held on 7 May 2026, alongside the other local elections across the United Kingdom being held on the same day, to elect 14 of 28 members of Gosport Borough Council in Hampshire, England.
Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control, being run by a Liberal Democrat minority administration. The Liberal Democrats lost every seat they were defending at this election. They were overtaken by both the Conservatives and Reform UK. After the election, the Conservatives chose Zoe Huggins to be their new group leader. She was appointed as the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 20 May 2026, leading a Conservative minority administration.
Summary
Background
In 2024, the Liberal Democrats retained control of the council.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 15 13 10 11 2 2 0 1 0 1 Vacant 1 Vacant 0 Changes 2024–2026: April 2024: Maggie Morgan (Conservative) dies – by-election held July 2024 July 2024: Jonathan Brown (Labour) gains by-election from Conservatives September 2024: Alan Durrant (Labour) dies – by-election held November 2024 November 2024: Lesley Meenaghan (Conservative) gains by-election from Labour November 2025: Bob Maynard (Liberal Democrats) dies – by-election held January 2026 January 2026: Paul Carter (Reform) gains by-election from Liberal Democrats Kirsten Bradley (Liberal Democrats) leaves party to sit as an independent
Election result
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Alverstoke Kevin Casey Conservative Yes Anglesey Philip Raffaelli Conservative No Bridgemary Stephen Hammond Liberal Democrats Yes Brockhurst & Privett Robert Hylands Liberal Democrats Yes Elson Sue Ballard Liberal Democrats Yes Forton Mervin Bradley Liberal Democrats Yes Grange & Alver Valley Jonathan Brown Labour Yes Harbourside & Town June Cully Labour No Hardway Jamie Hutchison Liberal Democrats No Lee East Graham Burgess Conservative Yes Lee West Stevyn Ricketts Conservative Yes Leesland & Newtown Dawn Kelly Liberal Democrats Yes Peel Common Stephen Philpott Conservative Yes Rowner & Holbrook David Herridge Liberal Democrats Yes
Candidates
Alverstoke
Anglesey
Bridgemary
Brockhurst & Privett
Elson
Forton
Grange & Alver Valley
Harbourside & Town
Hardway
Lee East
Lee West
Leesland & Newtown
Peel Common
Rowner & Holbrook
References