The 2026 West Lancashire 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 16 of 48 members of West Lancashire Borough Council in Lancashire, England.
Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control. Labour was the largest party and ran the council as a minority administration. At this election, the council remained under no overall control. Labour won none of the seats being contested at this election. They narrowly remained the largest party, with 13 seats, closely followed by the Conservatives with 12 seats and local party Our West Lancashire with 11 seats. After the election, the Conservatives and Our West Lancashire formed a coalition administration. The Conservative group leader, David Whittington, was formally appointed as the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 20 May 2026.
Summary
Background In 2024, the Labour Party retained majority control of the council. In January 2026, the council asked for the election to be postponed pending local government reorganisation. However it was rescheduled on 16 February 2026.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 26 21 14 14 5 7 Not formed 1 0 2
Changes 2024–2026: September 2024: Neil Furey (Labour), Paul Hogan (Labour), and Kerry Lloyd (Labour) leave party to sit as independents May 2025: Neil Furey (Independent) joins OWL Nikki Hennessy (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent August 2025: Kerry Lloyd (Independent) resigns – by-election held October 2025 October 2025: Gordon Johnson (OWL) gains by-election from Labour Paul Hogan (Independent) joins Your Party November 2025: Julian Finch (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent
Election result
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Aughton & Holborn Sarah Lawton No Burscough Bridge & Rufford Edward Pope Yes Burscough Town Andy Fowler Yes North Meols & Hesketh Bank Thomas de Freitas Yes Old Skelmersdale Nicola Pryce-Roberts No Ormskirk East Rob Molloy No Ormskirk West Gareth Dowling Yes Rural North East Katie Juckes Yes Rural South Linda Webster Yes Rural West Jane Marshall Yes Skelmersdale North Yvonne Gagen No Skelmersdale South Vickie Cummins Yes Tanhouse & SkelmersdaleTown Centre Paul Hogan Yes Tarleton Village David Westley No Up Holland Suresh Patel Yes
Ward results
Aughton & Holborn
Burscough Bridge & Rufford
Burscough Town
North Meols & Hesketh Bank
Old Skelmersdale
Ormskirk East
Ormskirk West
Rural North East
Rural South
Rural West
Skelmersdale North
Skelmersdale South
Tanhouse & Skelmersdale Town Centre
Tarleton Village
Up Holland
References