← Colchester (all cycles) · 7 May 2026 cohort

Colchester 2026

Local elections held 7 May 2026.

17 ward races

17 seats

16 elected below the proportional quota

94.1% of seats below quota

How to read this page

Each race below shows the share of valid ballots the marginal elected candidate actually won, and compares it to the proportional quota: the share they'd need to clinch the seat under any proportional voting method (1 seats + 1). For a 1-seat ward the quota is 50%; for 2 seats, 33.3%; for 3 seats, 25%.

Where the actual winning share fell below the quota, we show the signed gap as points below quota (a negative number) — the editorial indictment. Above-quota results clear the bar and pass without comment. The voting method is the subject of every observation here. Named candidates appear as the public election record requires; the cause being audited is the voting method, not the individuals. See the methodology page for derivations.

If votes were counted by party

Across the 17 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 17 seats had been shared out in proportion to votes received (how, with caveats). The Δ column is the actual seat count minus the proportional seat count — positive numbers are parties First-Past-the-Post over-represented; negative are parties it under-represented.

Party	Votes	Vote %	Seats won	% of seats	Proportional seats	Proportional %	Δ
Reform UK	17,092	29.3%	5	29.4%	5	29.4%	0
Conservative Party	12,384	21.2%	5	29.4%	4	23.5%	+1
Liberal Democrats	10,949	18.8%	3	17.6%	3	17.6%	0
Green Party	9,143	15.7%	1	5.9%	3	17.6%	-2
Labour Party	8,322	14.3%	3	17.6%	2	11.8%	+1
Independent	441	0.8%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Total	58,331	100.0%	17	100.0%	17	100.0%	0

Vote share vs seats won

The top bar is each party's share of votes cast in this council. Below, one square per seat, coloured by the party that won it — first the actual First-Past-the-Post result, then what a proportional method would have produced from the same vote totals. Divergence between the bar and the actual grid is the indictment of the method.

Vote share

Actual seats

Proportional seats

Council composition: what this election replaced

Two opencouncildata snapshots: the council immediately after the 2026 election (current) and immediately before it (2025). Only ~⅓ of seats were contested in 2026 — most of the bench is unchanged, and the cycle's effect on the overall composition is what shifts.

Current (2026)

Previous (2025)

Wards in this council

Sorted with the largest gap below the quota first. Click any ward to jump to its full result.

Highwoods · 1 seat · won at 28.2% · −21.8 pts below quota
New Town and Christ Church · 1 seat · won at 32.4% · −17.6 pts below quota
Stanway · 1 seat · won at 32.8% · −17.2 pts below quota
Shrub End · 1 seat · won at 34.0% · −16.0 pts below quota
Greenstead · 1 seat · won at 35.0% · −15.0 pts below quota
Prettygate · 1 seat · won at 36.5% · −13.5 pts below quota
Berechurch · 1 seat · won at 37.7% · −12.3 pts below quota
Marks Tey and Layer · 1 seat · won at 38.1% · −11.9 pts below quota
Mersea and Pyefleet · 1 seat · won at 38.2% · −11.8 pts below quota
Tiptree · 1 seat · won at 38.7% · −11.3 pts below quota
Old Heath and the Hythe · 1 seat · won at 40.3% · −9.7 pts below quota
Rural North · 1 seat · won at 42.2% · −7.8 pts below quota
Castle · 1 seat · won at 43.9% · −6.1 pts below quota
Lexden and Braiswick · 1 seat · won at 45.0% · −5.0 pts below quota
Wivenhoe · 1 seat · won at 46.3% · −3.7 pts below quota
St Anne's and St John's · 1 seat · won at 46.8% · −3.2 pts below quota
Mile End · 1 seat · won at 50.4% · above quota

Race results

Highwoods · single-seat

Marginal winner 28.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −21.8 pts Valid ballots 2,985

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Sue Ettritch	Reform UK	842	28.2%	−21.8 pts	Elected
2	Mark Jenkins	Liberal Democrats	727	24.4%	—
3	Jocelyn Emma Law	Labour Party	674	22.6%	—
4	Angus Allan	Conservative Party	436	14.6%	—
5	Alison Dyvig	Green Party	306	10.3%	—

Electorate 7,365 · Ballots cast 2,992 · Invalid 7 · EC ward code local.colchester.highwoods.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

New Town and Christ Church · single-seat

Marginal winner 32.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −17.6 pts Valid ballots 3,859

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Kayleigh Rippingale	Labour Party	1,249	32.4%	−17.6 pts	Elected
2	Andrew Canessa	Green Party	899	23.3%	—
3	Andrew Eddy	Reform UK	746	19.3%	—
4	Annesley Hardy	Conservative Party	467	12.1%	—
5	Alan Mathias	Liberal Democrats	459	11.9%	—
6	Ian Partridge	Independent	39	1.0%	—

Electorate 10,058 · Ballots cast 3,861 · Invalid 2 · EC ward code local.colchester.new-town-christ-church.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Stanway · single-seat

Marginal winner 32.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −17.2 pts Valid ballots 3,032

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Mike Saunders	Reform UK	995	32.8%	−17.2 pts	Elected
2	Amir William Anbouche	Liberal Democrats	671	22.1%	—
3	Cody Jon Butler	Conservative Party	470	15.5%	—
4	Lizzie Bolton	Independent	402	13.3%	—
5	Clare Smee	Green Party	266	8.8%	—
6	John Spademan	Labour Party	228	7.5%	—

Electorate 7,198 · Ballots cast 3,036 · Invalid 4 · EC ward code local.colchester.stanway.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Shrub End · single-seat

Marginal winner 34.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −16.0 pts Valid ballots 2,757

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	James Child	Reform UK	937	34.0%	−16.0 pts	Elected
2	Mick Spindler	Liberal Democrats	850	30.8%	—
3	Cameron Hope	Labour Party	333	12.1%	—
4	Robert Charles Brannan	Green Party	321	11.6%	—
5	Bevan Waghorn	Conservative Party	316	11.5%	—

Electorate 8,745 · Ballots cast 2,761 · Invalid 4 · EC ward code local.colchester.shrub-end.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Greenstead · single-seat

Marginal winner 35.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −15.0 pts Valid ballots 2,565

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Daryl Swain	Reform UK	899	35.0%	−15.0 pts	Elected
2	Elizabeth Alake-Akinyemi	Labour Party	781	30.4%	—
3	Lisa Jane Cross	Green Party	393	15.3%	—
4	Ronnie Achille	Conservative Party	268	10.4%	—
5	Daniel Ribton	Liberal Democrats	224	8.7%	—

Electorate 10,231 · Ballots cast 2,578 · Invalid 13 · EC ward code local.colchester.greenstead.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Prettygate · single-seat

Marginal winner 36.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −13.5 pts Valid ballots 3,698

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	David Linghorn-Baker	Conservative Party	1,350	36.5%	−13.5 pts	Elected
2	Sophie Almina Preston-Hall	Reform UK	918	24.8%	—
3	John Loxley	Liberal Democrats	728	19.7%	—
4	Stella Eldon	Green Party	380	10.3%	—
5	Chris Coates	Labour Party	322	8.7%	—

Electorate 7,724 · Ballots cast 3,714 · Invalid 16 · EC ward code local.colchester.prettygate.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Berechurch · single-seat

Marginal winner 37.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −12.3 pts Valid ballots 2,525

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Martyn Warnes	Labour Party	952	37.7%	−12.3 pts	Elected
2	Max Maxwell	Reform UK	947	37.5%	—
3	Patrick Guy Merienne	Green Party	269	10.7%	—
4	Chris Piggott	Conservative Party	211	8.4%	—
5	Crystelle Rollo-Hislop	Liberal Democrats	146	5.8%	—

Electorate 7,389 · Ballots cast 2,542 · Invalid 17 · EC ward code local.colchester.berechurch.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Marks Tey and Layer · single-seat

Marginal winner 38.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −11.9 pts Valid ballots 3,808

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Andrew Patrick Harding	Reform UK	1,452	38.1%	−11.9 pts	Elected
2	Jackie MacLean	Conservative Party	1,257	33.0%	—
3	Berthold Lausen	Green Party	482	12.7%	—
4	Mark John Hull	Liberal Democrats	354	9.3%	—
5	Wayne Tearle	Labour Party	263	6.9%	—

Electorate 8,555 · Ballots cast 3,816 · Invalid 8 · EC ward code local.colchester.marks-tey-layer.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Mersea and Pyefleet · single-seat

Marginal winner 38.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −11.8 pts Valid ballots 4,117

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Robert Alec Davidson	Conservative Party	1,573	38.2%	−11.8 pts	Elected
2	Christopher Paul Perera	Reform UK	1,468	35.7%	—
3	Heidi Cornish	Green Party	597	14.5%	—
4	John Micheal Knight	Liberal Democrats	254	6.2%	—
5	Natalie Eldred	Labour Party	225	5.5%	—

Electorate 8,121 · Ballots cast 4,134 · Invalid 17 · EC ward code local.colchester.mersea-pyefleet.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Tiptree · single-seat

Marginal winner 38.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −11.3 pts Valid ballots 3,524

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Rhys Kenneth Smithson	Conservative Party	1,364	38.7%	−11.3 pts	Elected
2	Aimee Louise Keteca	Reform UK	1,363	38.7%	—
3	Lewis David Burn	Green Party	359	10.2%	—
4	Barry Gilheany	Labour Party	224	6.4%	—
5	Sue Waite	Liberal Democrats	214	6.1%	—

Electorate 7,767 · Ballots cast 3,534 · Invalid 10 · EC ward code local.colchester.tiptree.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Old Heath and the Hythe · single-seat

Marginal winner 40.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −9.7 pts Valid ballots 3,355

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Lee Paul Scordis	Labour Party	1,351	40.3%	−9.7 pts	Elected
2	Simon Hughes	Reform UK	1,063	31.7%	—
3	Alyssa Katherine Carrington	Green Party	566	16.9%	—
4	Andrew John Higginson	Conservative Party	221	6.6%	—
5	Jenny Stevens	Liberal Democrats	154	4.6%	—

Electorate 8,590 · Ballots cast 3,369 · Invalid 14 · EC ward code local.colchester.old-heath-the-hythe.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Rural North · single-seat

Marginal winner 42.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −7.8 pts Valid ballots 4,372

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	William D'Urban Sunnucks	Conservative Party	1,847	42.2%	−7.8 pts	Elected
2	Graham Wilson	Reform UK	1,385	31.7%	—
3	Alex Elizabeth McCormick	Green Party	450	10.3%	—
4	Karen Dawn Maxwell	Liberal Democrats	375	8.6%	—
5	Gary David Braddy	Labour Party	315	7.2%	—

Electorate 8,608 · Ballots cast 4,382 · Invalid 10 · EC ward code local.colchester.rural-north.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Castle · single-seat

Marginal winner 43.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −6.1 pts Valid ballots 3,434

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Amy Kirkby-Taylor	Green Party	1,507	43.9%	−6.1 pts	Elected
2	Susan Mary Jennings	Reform UK	695	20.2%	—
3	Richard Martin	Conservative Party	432	12.6%	—
4	Laura Philpin	Labour Party	409	11.9%	—
5	Martin Gillingham	Liberal Democrats	391	11.4%	—

Electorate 8,580 · Ballots cast 3,441 · Invalid 7 · EC ward code local.colchester.castle.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Lexden and Braiswick · single-seat

Marginal winner 45.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −5.0 pts Valid ballots 3,790

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Sara Jane Naylor	Conservative Party	1,706	45.0%	−5.0 pts	Elected
2	Keith Charles Coomber	Reform UK	956	25.2%	—
3	James Robert David Jefferies	Green Party	453	12.0%	—
4	Jacqui Morley	Liberal Democrats	366	9.7%	—
5	Paul Ojo	Labour Party	309	8.2%	—

Electorate 7,648 · Ballots cast 3,800 · Invalid 10 · EC ward code local.colchester.lexden-braiswick.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Wivenhoe · single-seat

Marginal winner 46.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −3.7 pts Valid ballots 3,347

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Andrea Luxford Vaughan	Liberal Democrats	1,548	46.3%	−3.7 pts	Elected
2	Cecily Hope Spelling	Green Party	1,092	32.6%	—
3	Leighton Lee James Sealeaf	Reform UK	418	12.5%	—
4	Zac Heskins	Labour Party	173	5.2%	—
5	Christopher Leslie Frank Thompson	Conservative Party	116	3.5%	—

Electorate 6,687 · Ballots cast 3,354 · Invalid 7 · EC ward code local.colchester.wivenhoe.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

St Anne's and St John's · single-seat

Marginal winner 46.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −3.2 pts Valid ballots 3,367

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Paul Smith	Liberal Democrats	1,576	46.8%	−3.2 pts	Elected
2	Dean Dasley	Reform UK	1,208	35.9%	—
3	Sebastian Dwyer	Green Party	333	9.9%	—
4	Christine Dale	Labour Party	250	7.4%	—

Electorate 8,112 · Ballots cast 3,394 · Invalid 27 · EC ward code local.colchester.st-annes-st-johns.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Mile End · single-seat

Marginal winner 50.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota +0.4 pts Valid ballots 3,796

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	David King	Liberal Democrats	1,912	50.4%	+0.4 pts	Elected
2	Flavia Popescu-Richardson	Reform UK	800	21.1%	—
3	Amanda Jane Kirke	Green Party	470	12.4%	—
4	Marianne Andersen	Conservative Party	350	9.2%	—
5	Pauline Bacon	Labour Party	264	7.0%	—

Electorate 10,369 · Ballots cast 3,804 · Invalid 8 · EC ward code local.colchester.mile-end.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index