The 2026 Hartlepool 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 12 of 36 members of Hartlepool Borough Council.
Prior to the election, the council was under Labour majority control. At the election, the council went under no overall control. Reform UK won all twelve of the seats being contested at this election. They were left with fifteen seats, one more than Labour's fourteen, and there were also seven independent councillors. The incumbent Labour leader of the council, Pamela Hargreaves, lost her seat. The Reform group leader, Graham Harrison, was formally appointed as the new leader of the council at the susbequent annual council meeting on 21 May 2026.
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 24 21 0 4 6 2 1 1 5 8 Changes 2024–2026: August 2024: Jonathan Brash (Labour) resigns – by-election held September 2024 September 2024: Owen Riddle (Labour) wins by-election March 2025: Cameron Sharp (Labour) resigns – by-election held May 2025 May 2025: Amanda Napper (Reform) gains by-election from Labour Rob Darby (Conservative) joins Reform Tom Feeney (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent June 2025: Steve Wallace (Independent, elected as Labour) resigns – by-election held July 2025 July 2025: Ed Doyle (Reform) nominally gains by-election from Labour August 2025: Mike Young (Conservative) joins Reform Andrew Martin-Wells (Conservative) and Scott Reeve (Conservative) leave party to sit as independents May 2026: Quewone Bailey-Fleet (Labour) left party to sit as an independent.
Summary
Background In 2024, Labour gained the council from no overall control. They held the council previously until 2019.
Election result
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Burn Valley Owen Riddle Labour Yes De Bruce Rachel Creevy Labour Yes Fens & Greatham Bob Buchan Conservative Yes Foggy Furze Melanie Morley Labour Yes Hart John Leedham Conservative No Headland & Harbour Shane Moore IU No Manor House Pamela Hargreaves Labour Yes Rossmere Moss Boddy Labour Yes Rural West Andrew Martin-Wells Independent No Seaton Gordon Cranney Independent Yes Throston Amanda Napper Reform Yes Victoria Gary Allen Labour Yes
Ward results
Burn Valley
De Bruce
Fens & Greatham
Foggy Furze
Hart
Headland & Harbour
Manor House
Rossmere
Rural West
Seaton
Throston
Victoria
References