The 2026 Calderdale Council election took place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. All 54 members of Calderdale Council in West Yorkshire were elected following boundary changes.
Prior to the election, the council was under Labour majority control. The incumbent leader, Jane Scullion, did not stand for re-election. At this election, Reform UK gained a majority of seats on the council, winning 34 out of 54 seats. This was the first time since 2015 that Labour did not form the council's administration. The Reform group leader, Daniel Sutherland, was formally appointed as leader of the council at the subsequent annual council meeting on 20 May 2026.
Background Calderdale was created in 1974 as a metropolitan borough. The Conservatives held control until 1976, when the council fell into no overall control. Labour formed their first majority in 1990 and remained the largest party until 1999. The Conservatives last held a majority from 2000 to 2002; following over a decade of no overall control, Labour won a majority of seats in 2019 and have held control since.
This election was held on a new set of ward boundaries – as such, all seats were up for election.The Calderdale (Electoral Changes) Order 2024. The number of three-member wards increased by one.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election After 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats Party Seats 29 26 34 11 8 8 6 6 7 3 3 2 0 3 2 1 1 1 1 2 0Vacant N/AVacant 2 Changes 2024–2026: September 2024: Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour) resigns – by-election held October 2024 October 2024: Jonathan Timbers (Labour) wins by-election February 2025: Dan Sutherland (Labour) joins Reform March 2025: Mike Barnes (Labour) resigns – by-election held May 2025 May 2025: Paul Hawkaluk (Reform) gains by-election from Labour January 2026: David Kirton (Conservative) dies – seat left vacant until 2026 election Peter Hunt (Conservative) joins Reform Geraldine Carter (Conservative) dies – seat left vacant until 2026 election March 2026: Leah Webster (Labour) resigns from the Labour party and sits as an independent
Election summary + 2026 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council election Party Candidates Elected Net change Seats % Votes % Votes Vote change Reform UK 54 34 34 63.0 36.2 70,417 New Labour 52 8 21 14.8 22.1 43,024 19.0 Green 54 7 4 13.0 20.4 39,700 4.4 Liberal Democrats 30 2 4 3.7 6.8 13,148 3.9 Independent 10 2 1 3.7 3.5 6,846 1.9 Workers Party 5 1 0 1.9 1.3 2,462 1.9 Conservative 36 0 11 0.0 9.6 18,657 16.5 Official Monster Raving Loony Party 1 0 0 0.0 0.1 246 New Total 242 54 3 100.0 100.0 194,500 Rejected ballots 0.2 169 Turnout 45.1 69,314 10.7 Registered electors 153,587
Ward results
Incumbent councillors are marked with an asterisk.
Brighouse
Elland
Greetland
Halifax Town
Hebden Bridge & Todmorden East
Hipperholme & Lightcliffe
Illingworth & Mixenden
Luddendenfoot
Northowram & Shelf
Ovenden
Park
Rastrick
Ryburn
Salterhebble, Southowram & Skircoat Green
Sowerby Bridge
Todmorden West
Wainhouse
Warley
References