The 2026 Burnley Borough Council election will take place on 7 May 2026 to elect members of Burnley Borough Council in Lancashire, England. This was on the same day as other local elections.
Prior to the election, the council was under no overall control. It was run by a coalition which called itself the "Co-operative Alliance", comprising the independent councillors, Liberal Democrats and Green Party, led by independent councillor Afrasiab Anwar.
The council remained under no overall control at this election. Reform UK won eleven of the fifteen seats being contested and became the largest individual party on the council. The coalition of the independent councillors, Liberal Democrats and Greens continued to run the council after the election, and the incumbent leader of the council, Afrasiab Anwar, was formally reappointed to the role at the subsequent annual council meeting on 20 May 2026.
Summary
Council composition After 2024 election Before 2026 election Party Seats Party Seats 15 13 8 7 7 7 5 5 0 2 10 11 Changes 2024–2026: February 2025: Charlie Briggs (Labour, elected as BAPIP) leaves party to sit as an independent June 2025: Alan Hosker (Conservative) leaves party to sit as an independent August 2025: Fiona Wild (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent Alan Hosker (Independent) and Jeff Sumner (Liberal Democrats) join Reform Charlie Briggs (Independent) joins Liberal Democrats September 2025: Fiona Wild (Independent) and Syeda Kazmi (Independent, elected as Labour) resign – by-elections held November 2025 November 2025: Shiraz Ahmed (Independent) and Musharaf Parvez (Independent) gain by-elections from Labour
Incumbents
Ward Incumbent councillorParty Re-standing Bank Hall Afrasiab Anwar Yes Briercliffe Gordon Lishman No Brunshaw Christine Sollis No Cliviger with Worsthorne Jack Launer Yes Coalclough with Deerplay Gordon Birtwistle Yes Daneshouse with Stoneyholme Shah Hussain Yes Gannow Neil Mottershead Yes Gawthorpe Alun Lewis Yes Hapton with Park Jamie McGowan Yes Lanehead Sue Graham Yes Queensgate Musharaf Parvez No Rosegrove with Lowerhouse Gail Barton No Rosehill with Burnley Wood Jeff Sumner Yes Trinity Alex Hall No Whittlefield with Ightenhall Mike Steel Yes
Election result
Ward results
Bank Hall
Briercliffe
Brunshaw
Cliviger with Worsthorne
Coalclough with Deerplay
Daneshouse with Stoneyholme
Gannow
Gawthorpe
Hapton with Park
Lanehead
Queensgate
Rosegrove with Lowerhouse
Rosehill with Burnley Wood
Trinity
Whittlefield with Ightenhill
References