2026 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election


The 2026 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council election will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, alongside other local elections in the United Kingdom. One third of the 57 members of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in Greater Manchester will be elected.

Background

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974. Aside from a brief period from 1976 to 1980, Labour have formed majority administrations. Each election has since 1980 has returned a Labour administration holding over 70% of the seats with the Conservatives forming the principal opposition for all but three elections. The 2024 election saw Labour lose 2 seats to independents and 1 seat to the Conservatives, but retain their majority.
Over the course of the 2024 to 2026 term, Labour fell to its lowest number of councillors in over 50 years. 10 Labour councillors were suspended during an investigation into offensive messages shared to a WhatsApp group, of which Andrew Gwynne MP was also a part. 5 of these were reinstated on the conclusion of the investigation, but a further 5 seats were lost through defections or resignations.
The 2023 election used a new set of ward boundaries. As such, this election will be for councillors elected with the second highest number of votes in each of the 57 three-member wards. Labour will be defending 17 and the Conservatives will be defending 2.

Council composition

Changes 2024–2026:
  • February 2025:
  • *Jacqueline North resigns – by-election held April 2025
  • *Ged Cooney, Allison Gwynne, George Jones, Charlotte Martin, Jack Naylor, George Newton, Claire Reid, Vincent Ricci, Denise Ward, and Brenda Warrington suspended from party
  • April 2025:
  • *Allan Hopwood gains by-election from Labour
  • *Gary Ferguson leaves party to sit as an independent
  • August 2025: Allison Gwynne, George Jones, Claire Reid, Denise Ward, and Brenda Warrington readmitted to Labour
  • October 2025: Ann Holland leaves party to sit as an independent
  • November 2025:
  • *Claire Reid resigns – seat left vacant until 2026 election
  • *Barrie Holland leaves party to sit as an independent