2026 Birmingham City Council election

Birmingham's Next Chapter: The 2026 City Council Election

On May 7, 2026, Birmingham will head to the polls for its City Council election. Every single one of the council's 101 seats will be up for grabs, encompassing 37 single-member and 32 two-member wards across the city. This widespread democratic exercise will coincide with other local elections throughout Great Britain, making it a pivotal day for regional politics.

A Look Back: The 2022 Results

In the previous council election held in 2022, the Labour Party successfully maintained its grip on the council, securing a comfortable majority with 65 seats. The Conservative Party formed the main opposition with 22 seats, while the Liberal Democrats secured 12, and the Green Party won two, painting a clear picture of the city's political leanings at that time.

Governing Britain's Cities: A Brief History

Birmingham's local government structure has a fascinating past. It began with the Local Government Act of 1972, which established a two-tier system of metropolitan counties and boroughs in major urban areas, including the West Midlands. Birmingham became a key district within this broader West Midlands metropolitan county.

However, this structure evolved further. The Local Government Act of 1985 later abolished these metropolitan county councils, empowering individual metropolitan boroughs, like Birmingham, to take on most of the county-level responsibilities. This shift effectively made city councils more autonomous and directly responsible for a wider range of services.

The Broader Regional Picture: West Midlands Combined Authority

More recently, in 2016, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) was created, introducing another layer of regional governance. From 2017, the WMCA began electing a Mayor, granting strategic powers over a region that mirrors the original West Midlands metropolitan county. This means Birmingham's local decisions often sit within a wider regional strategy, reflecting interconnected interests and challenges.

Birmingham's Political Journey

Throughout its history, Birmingham City Council has seen various periods of control. It has swung between Labour and Conservative majorities, and at times, no single party held overall control, leading to coalition governments. This ebb and flow of power is a testament to the city's diverse electorate and changing political tides.

Since the 2012 council election, the Labour Party has held an overall majority, regaining control from a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition that had governed the city since 2004. This extended period of Labour leadership marks a significant era in Birmingham's recent political history.

The Current Leadership Landscape

As of late 2025, John Cotton leads the Labour group, while Robert Alden fronts the Conservative group. Roger Harmer is at the helm for the Liberal Democrats, and Julian Pritchard leads the Greens. Additionally, smaller groups like the Harborne and Quinton Independents, led by Martin Brooks, and the Birmingham Independents, led by Jane Jones, also play a role in the council's intricate dynamics.

The Shifting Sands of Council Composition

While Labour secured a strong majority in 2022, the period leading up to the 2026 election has seen notable shifts in council composition, creating a more fluid and unpredictable environment. By-elections, resignations, and party defections have all contributed to a different balance of power than what was established on election night 2022.

For instance, after the 2022 election, Labour held 65 seats, Conservatives 22, Liberal Democrats 12, and Greens 2. But by late 2025, just before the next election, the numbers had changed significantly: Labour stood at 52 seats, Conservatives at 21, Liberal Democrats at 13, and Greens at 2. A new force emerged: Independents now held 11 seats, with 2 seats vacant.

A Series of Changes and Challenges

These shifts weren't random; they were a result of a series of events. From August 2022 through December 2025, the council experienced a flurry of activity. Deaths and resignations triggered several by-elections, which saw some seats change hands or stay with their original party after a fresh contest.

Perhaps even more impactful were the defections. Throughout this period, a number of Labour councillors, including Ayoub Khan, Martin Brooks, Sam Forsyth, Barbara Dring, Jane Jones, Amar Khan, Mohammed Idrees, Chaman Lal, and Rinkal Shergill, chose to leave the party and sit as independents. Shabina Bano even joined the Liberal Democrats from Labour.

These changes, culminating in Jack Deakin's resignation in December 2025 leaving a seat vacant, illustrate the dynamic and sometimes volatile nature of local politics. They reflect individual decisions, local issues, and broader political currents, making the upcoming 2026 election even more compelling as parties vie to reshape the council's future.

Anticipating the Outcome: Opinion Polls

As the election draws nearer, political observers and parties will keenly watch for opinion polls and seat projections. These polls aim to gauge public sentiment and predict potential outcomes, though local elections can be notoriously difficult to forecast given their diverse issues and candidate personalities. While specific poll data from early 2026 will undoubtedly offer clues, the final decision rests with the voters on election day.