Local Election 2026 roundup
08/05/2026
You can a vote breakdown and other statistics here
Both Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats were the big winners at the Local Elections in the Cherwell District.
Reform UK saw their first 6 councillors elected to the authority. Four of those were in Banbury wards with three of the seats previously held by Labour. The remaining seat had been held by former Banbury Town Mayor Dr Chuk Okeke. In 2022 he had been elected to represent Labour, but subsequently switched to the Conservatives. He finished fourth this time in Banbury Cross and Neithrop, behind Reform UK, the Green Party and Labour.
After Reform UK’s first councillor was elected David Collingwood-Turner told us they were delighted but alluded to difficulties during campaigning.
The Liberal Democrats increased their number of councillors by 4 up to 20. They took Cropredy, Sibfords and Wroxton, along with two Bicester wards and Fringford and Heyfords from the Conservatives – the last of those had been held by former council leader Barry Wood, who did not re-stand this time.
The Liberal Democrat Leader of the Council, David Hingley, retained Addberbury, Bloxham and Bodicote and told us as the biggest party they hoped to continue in the role of Cherwell’s administration.
The results for Labour and the Conservatives mirrored the national picture.
Labour only managed to retain one of the four wards they were defending with the group’s leader, Andrew Crichton, losing out to Reform UK in Banbury Hardwick.
But Banbury Grimsbury and Hightown did give Rebecca Beigel their support for a second term. She believes focusing on local issues was key to her campaign.
The Conservatives had the most to lose, defending their seat in 7 wards and losing all but two.
Ian Harwood was one of those that will return to the council chamber, after being re-elected in Banbury Calthorpe and Easington. The group’s leader, Eddie Reeves, was the other in Deddington.
He thanked those that had put their faith in him, but questioned whether Reform UK would be able to follow through with their promises.
Elsewhere, Fiona Mawson successfully defended her seat for the Greens in Kidlington East.
The makeup of the council is now Liberal Democrat 20, Conservative 8, Labour 8, Reform UK 6, Green 4 and Independent 2.
The count took place at Spiceball Leisure Centre where a team of 108 people validated and then counted the ballot papers.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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