2025 Northumberland County Council election


The 2025 Northumberland County Council election took place on 1 May 2025 to elect members to Northumberland County Council in Northumberland, England. 69 members were elected on the same day as other local elections across England. In the election the council remained under no overall control. Alongside Buckinghamshire, this was one of the only two councils where the Conservatives were elected as the largest party.

Background

At the 2021 election, the Conservatives won control of the council. They subsequently lost their majority later in 2021 following a by-election, but continued to run the council as a minority administration between 2021 and 2025. New division boundaries were drawn up to come into effect for the 2025 election, increasing the number of councillors from 67 to 69.

Previous council composition

Changes

  • November 2021: Cath Homer resigns – by-election held December 2021
  • December 2021: Suzanne Fairless-Aitken gains by-election from Conservatives
  • January 2022: Paul Scott dies – by-election held March 2022
  • February 2022: Holly Waddell suspended from party
  • March 2022: Eve Chicken wins by-election
  • June 2023: Mary Murphy leaves party to sit as an independent
  • June 2024: Christine Dunbar resigns – by-election held August 2024
  • August 2024: Alan Smith wins by-election
  • October 2024: Liz Simpson leaves party to sit as an independent

Summary

Prior to the election the council was under no overall control, being run by a Conservative minority administration led by Glen Sanderson. The election saw the Conservatives lose seats, but they remained the largest party, having 26 seats after the election. Reform UK had no seats on the council prior to the election; it won 23 seats, overtaking Labour to become the second largest party on the council. Reform UK chose Mark Peart to be its group leader after the election. At the subsequent annual council meeting on 21 May 2025, both Sanderson and Peart were proposed to be the new leader of the council. Sanderson was chosen by 34 votes to 22, with the Independent Group, Liberal Democrats and Green Party all voting in favour of Sanderson, whilst Labour abstained. The council therefore continued to be run by a Conservative minority administration, with all positions on the council's cabinet being given to Conservatives.

Division results

Bedlington Central

Choppington & Hepscott

Cramlington South East

Haydon & Hadrian

Longhirst