The 2023 Middlesbrough Borough Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect all 46 members of Middlesbrough Council and the directly-elected Mayor of Middlesbrough. This was on the same day as other local elections across England.
Prior to the election the council was under no overall control and the mayor was Andy Preston, an independent. The election saw Labour's candidate Chris Cooke win the mayoralty from Andy Preston, and the party also won a majority of the seats on the council.
Summary
Council Following the results, the council moved from no overall control to a Labour majority.
Mayor
Ward results
Acklam
Ayresome
Berwick Hills & Pallister
Brambles & Thorntree
Central
Coulby Newham
Hemlington
Kader
Ladgate
Linthorpe
Longlands & Beechwood
Marton East
Marton West
Newport
North Ormesby
Nunthorpe
Park
Park End & Beckfield
Stainton & Thornton
Trimdon
Changes 2023–2027 14 January 2026: Christine Cooper (Independent, Trimdon) joined Reform UK, having left the Middlesbrough Independent Councillors Association the previous August.
By-elections
Ayresome
The by-election was held after Labour councillor Antony High resigned at the end of June 2023, citing a change in his personal work situation. High had originally been elected as an independent in 2019 and served as deputy mayor before defecting to Labour in March 2022.
Acklam
The by-election was held after Labour councillor Sheila Dean stood down for health reasons, having represented Acklam since the 2015 boundary review.
Central
The by-election was held after Labour councillor Matt Storey resigned to take up the post of Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland, to which he was elected on 2 May 2024.
Hemlington
The by-election was held following the death of Labour councillor Jeanette Walker on 16 August 2024, after a long-term illness. Walker had represented Hemlington for 17 years, since 2007.
Nunthorpe
The by-election was held after Liberal Democrat councillor Morgan McClintock resigned on 26 October 2025, amid what he described as an "unstable environment" over the management of local community projects, saying he wanted residents to have the chance to "choose the way forward" through an election.
References