2026 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council election
The 2026 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. All 90 members of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in West Yorkshire will be elected following boundary changes.
Article
2026 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council election
The 2026 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. All 90 members of the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in West Yorkshire will be elected following boundary changes.
Background
2026 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council election
Bradford was created in 1974 as a metropolitan borough. The Conservatives formed a majority administration from its creation until (/wiki/1978CityofBradfordMetropolitanDistrictCouncilelection), when the council fell into no overall control. Labour won their first majority in (/wiki/1980CityofBradfordMetropolitanDistrictCouncilelection), and have been the only party to form majority administrations since. Aside from a brief period between (/wiki/2004CityofBradfordMetropolitanDistrictCouncilelection) and (/wiki/2006CityofBradfordMetropolitanDistrictCouncilelection), Labour have been the largest party on the council for the entirety of the 21st century and have continuously held a majority of seats since (/wiki/2014CityofBradfordMetropolitanDistrictCouncilelection).
(/wiki/2024CityofBradfordMetropolitanDistrictCouncilelection) saw Labour fall to its lowest number of councillors in eight years following large gains by independents, which some attributed to Labour's stance on the Gaza war. Labour won 10 seats (down 4), independents won 9 seats (up 4), the Conservatives won 4 seats (down 2), the Green Party won 4 seats (up 2) and the Liberal Democrats won 3 seats (steady). Following the election, the Conservatives formed a group with independent councillor Luke Majkowski.
This election will take place on a new set of ward boundaries, meaning all 90 seats will be up for election.
New ward boundaries for 2026
Council composition
2026 City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council election
<table><thead><tr><th>After 2024 election</th><th>Before 2026 election</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Party</td><td>Seats</td><td>Party</td><td>Seats</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Labour</td><td>49</td><td></td><td>Labour</td><td>47</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td>13</td><td></td><td>Conservative</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Green</td><td>10</td><td></td><td>Green</td><td>10</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td>5</td><td></td><td>Liberal Democrats</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Independent</td><td>13</td><td></td><td>Independent</td><td>15</td></tr></tbody></table>
• February 2025: Marcus Dearden (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent • March 2025: Joe Wheatley (Labour) leaves party to sit as an independent • November 2025: Russell Brown (Conservative) dies – by-election held February 2026 • February 2026: Paul Golding (Conservative) wins by-election