The 2026 Rugby 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 42 members of Rugby Borough Council in Warwickshire, England.

Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control. The Conservatives were the largest party, but the council was being run by a Labour minority administration with informal support from the Liberal Democrats.

The council remained under no overall control at this election. The Conservatives lost seats but remained the largest party. The Liberal Democrats made net gains, winning six of the fifteen seats being contested at this election, whilst Labour lost seats, leaving Labour and the Liberal Democrats each with twelve seats. Reform UK also won three seats, having not held any seats prior to the election. The incumbent Labour leader of the council, Michael Moran, did not stand for re-election. After the election, Labour chose Louise Robinson to be its new group leader. Labour and the Liberal Democrats subsequently formed a coalition to run the council, led by the new Labour group leader Louise Robinson. She was formally confirmed as the new leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 21 May 2026.

Summary

Background In 2024, the council remained under no overall control but Labour overtook the Conservatives as the largest party. In January 2026, the council asked for the election to be postponed pending local government reorganisation. However it was rescheduled on 16 February 2026.

Election result

Incumbents

Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Admirals & Cawston Michael Moran No Benn Richard Harrington Yes Bilton Toby Lawrence Yes Coton & Boughton Alison Livesey Yes Dunsmore Jon Bennett No Eastlands Sam Edwards Yes Hillmorton Ian Picker No New Bilton Angela Thompson Yes Newbold & Brownsover Ramesh Srivastava No Paddox Noreen New Yes Revel & Binley Woods Belinda Garcia Yes Rokeby & Overslade Bill Lewis No Wolston & The Lawfords Simon Ward Yes Wolvey & Shilton Becky Maoudis No

Ward results

Admirals & Cawston

Benn

Bilton

Coton & Boughton

Dunsmore

Eastlands

Hillmorton

New Bilton

Newbold & Brownsover

Paddox

Revel & Binley Woods

Rokeby & Overslade

Wolston & The Lawfords

Wolvey & Shilton

References