← Preston (all cycles) · 7 May 2026 cohort

Preston 2026

Local elections held 7 May 2026.

16 ward races

16 seats

15 elected below the proportional quota

93.8% 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 16 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 16 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	10,235	27.3%	5	31.3%	5	31.3%	0
Liberal Democrats	8,582	22.9%	5	31.3%	4	25.0%	+1
Labour Party	7,859	21.0%	4	25.0%	3	18.8%	+1
Green Party	6,223	16.6%	2	12.5%	3	18.8%	-1
Conservative Party	4,053	10.8%	0	0.0%	1	6.3%	-1
Independent	460	1.2%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	22	0.1%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Total	37,434	100.0%	16	100.0%	16	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.

Preston Rural East · 1 seat · won at 32.3% · −17.7 pts below quota
Ashton · 1 seat · won at 33.5% · −16.5 pts below quota
Preston Rural North · 1 seat · won at 34.1% · −15.9 pts below quota
Sharoe Green · 1 seat · won at 34.3% · −15.7 pts below quota
Plungington · 1 seat · won at 35.1% · −14.9 pts below quota
St Matthew's · 1 seat · won at 36.1% · −13.9 pts below quota
Garrison · 1 seat · won at 36.8% · −13.2 pts below quota
Lea and Larches · 1 seat · won at 39.2% · −10.8 pts below quota
City Centre · 1 seat · won at 39.7% · −10.3 pts below quota
Cadley · 1 seat · won at 40.2% · −9.8 pts below quota
Brookfield · 1 seat · won at 42.5% · −7.5 pts below quota
Fishwick and Frenchwood · 1 seat · won at 43.9% · −6.1 pts below quota
Greyfriars · 1 seat · won at 45.1% · −4.9 pts below quota
Ingol and Cottam · 1 seat · won at 45.3% · −4.7 pts below quota
Ribbleton · 1 seat · won at 47.1% · −2.9 pts below quota
Deepdale · 1 seat · won at 54.1% · above quota

Race results

Preston Rural East · single-seat

Marginal winner 32.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −17.7 pts Valid ballots 3,630

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Daniel Paul Nuttall	Reform UK	1,172	32.3%	−17.7 pts	Elected
2	Steve Whittam	Conservative Party	980	27.0%	—
3	Liam Yip	Liberal Democrats	610	16.8%	—
4	Karen Kendall	Green Party	523	14.4%	—
5	Beth Moore	Labour Party	345	9.5%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 3,630 · EC ward code local.preston.preston-rural-east.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Ashton · single-seat

Marginal winner 33.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −16.5 pts Valid ballots 2,496

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Ronan Hodgson	Liberal Democrats	836	33.5%	−16.5 pts	Elected
2	Lee Slater	Reform UK	723	29.0%	—
3	Andrew David MacLaren	Labour Party	428	17.1%	—
4	Rachel Gill	Green Party	373	14.9%	—
5	Keith Sedgewick	Conservative Party	136	5.4%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,496 · EC ward code local.preston.ashton.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Preston Rural North · single-seat

Marginal winner 34.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −15.9 pts Valid ballots 2,886

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Stephen Geoffrey Thompson	Reform UK	983	34.1%	−15.9 pts	Elected
2	Rene Van Mierlo	Liberal Democrats	932	32.3%	—
3	Fay Elizabeth Whittam	Conservative Party	515	17.8%	—
4	Daniel Bennett	Green Party	244	8.5%	—
5	Lynne Brooks	Labour Party	212	7.3%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,886 · EC ward code local.preston.preston-rural-north.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Sharoe Green · single-seat

Marginal winner 34.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −15.7 pts Valid ballots 2,839

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Jack Singh	Liberal Democrats	975	34.3%	−15.7 pts	Elected
2	Brian Martin Ollerton	Reform UK	638	22.5%	—
3	Maxwell Green	Conservative Party	552	19.4%	—
4	Amy Strettle	Green Party	351	12.4%	—
5	Rick Seymour	Labour Party	323	11.4%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,839 · EC ward code local.preston.sharoe-green.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Plungington · single-seat

Marginal winner 35.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −14.9 pts Valid ballots 1,828

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Gabie Lowe	Green Party	641	35.1%	−14.9 pts	Elected
2	Pav Akhtar	Labour Party	538	29.4%	—
3	Susan Tracey Brown	Reform UK	438	24.0%	—
4	Ruth Van Mierlo	Liberal Democrats	108	5.9%	—
5	Frankie Kennedy	Conservative Party	81	4.4%	—
6	Penelope Dawber	Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition	22	1.2%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 1,828 · EC ward code local.preston.plungington.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

St Matthew's · single-seat

Marginal winner 36.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −13.9 pts Valid ballots 1,711

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Takhsin Akhtar	Labour Party	618	36.1%	−13.9 pts	Elected
2	Waqas Ahmed	Independent	396	23.1%	—
3	Charlie Craig Fitzpatrick	Reform UK	297	17.4%	—
4	Gareth Basterfield	Green Party	270	15.8%	—
5	Tayo Korede	Conservative Party	71	4.1%	—
6	Anita Murray	Liberal Democrats	59	3.4%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 1,711 · EC ward code local.preston.st-matthews.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Garrison · single-seat

Marginal winner 36.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −13.2 pts Valid ballots 2,670

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Amber Afzal	Labour Party	983	36.8%	−13.2 pts	Elected
2	Simon Holmes	Reform UK	774	29.0%	—
3	Helen Disley	Green Party	356	13.3%	—
4	Al-Yasa Khan	Conservative Party	254	9.5%	—
5	Claire Craven	Liberal Democrats	239	9.0%	—
6	Aran Bailey	Independent	64	2.4%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,670 · EC ward code local.preston.garrison.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Lea and Larches · single-seat

Marginal winner 39.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −10.8 pts Valid ballots 2,115

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Jemma Louise Rushe	Reform UK	829	39.2%	−10.8 pts	Elected
2	Sean Little	Liberal Democrats	823	38.9%	—
3	Bill Adams	Labour Party	222	10.5%	—
4	Keith Berry	Green Party	162	7.7%	—
5	Javaris Maharaj	Conservative Party	79	3.7%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,115 · EC ward code local.preston.lea-larches.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

City Centre · single-seat

Marginal winner 39.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −10.3 pts Valid ballots 2,068

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Tina Balmer	Green Party	821	39.7%	−10.3 pts	Elected
2	Mark Francis Routledge	Labour Party	572	27.7%	—
3	Lorenzo More	Reform UK	357	17.3%	—
4	Andy Pratt	Conservative Party	199	9.6%	—
5	Sam Zhang-Peak	Liberal Democrats	119	5.8%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,068 · EC ward code local.preston.city-centre.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Cadley · single-seat

Marginal winner 40.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −9.8 pts Valid ballots 2,577

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Daniel Gregg	Liberal Democrats	1,037	40.2%	−9.8 pts	Elected
2	Flo Emmanuel	Reform UK	762	29.6%	—
3	Isaac Oluwasuji Omopariola	Labour Party	304	11.8%	—
4	Jono Grisdale	Green Party	282	10.9%	—
5	Lakwinder Singh	Conservative Party	192	7.5%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,577 · EC ward code local.preston.cadley.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Brookfield · single-seat

Marginal winner 42.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −7.5 pts Valid ballots 1,563

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Rob Walsh	Reform UK	665	42.5%	−7.5 pts	Elected
2	Mel Close	Labour Party	437	28.0%	—
3	Robin Stewart Weston	Green Party	237	15.2%	—
4	Daniel Duckworth	Conservative Party	118	7.5%	—
5	Rebecca Potter	Liberal Democrats	106	6.8%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 1,563 · EC ward code local.preston.brookfield.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Fishwick and Frenchwood · single-seat

Marginal winner 43.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −6.1 pts Valid ballots 1,926

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Valerie Wise	Labour Party	846	43.9%	−6.1 pts	Elected
2	Christopher Soames	Green Party	594	30.8%	—
3	Stephen Gregson	Reform UK	298	15.5%	—
4	Ash Jariwala	Conservative Party	115	6.0%	—
5	Joanne Joyner	Liberal Democrats	73	3.8%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 1,926 · EC ward code local.preston.fishwick-frenchwood.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Greyfriars · single-seat

Marginal winner 45.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −4.9 pts Valid ballots 2,792

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Fiona Duke	Liberal Democrats	1,258	45.1%	−4.9 pts	Elected
2	Simon Crowe	Reform UK	622	22.3%	—
3	Andrew Craig Bielas-Barnes	Conservative Party	309	11.1%	—
4	Joanne Afrin Black	Labour Party	309	11.1%	—
5	Jacob Bilsborrow	Green Party	294	10.5%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,792 · EC ward code local.preston.greyfriars.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Ingol and Cottam · single-seat

Marginal winner 45.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −4.7 pts Valid ballots 2,752

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Neil Darby	Liberal Democrats	1,248	45.3%	−4.7 pts	Elected
2	David Preston	Reform UK	821	29.8%	—
3	Sarah Jane Hart	Conservative Party	281	10.2%	—
4	Toby Worth	Green Party	239	8.7%	—
5	Derek Barton	Labour Party	163	5.9%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,752 · EC ward code local.preston.ingol-cottam.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Ribbleton · single-seat

Marginal winner 47.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −2.9 pts Valid ballots 1,326

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Vasile Alecu	Reform UK	625	47.1%	−2.9 pts	Elected
2	Michael Christopher McGowan	Labour Party	340	25.6%	—
3	Daniel Thompson	Green Party	200	15.1%	—
4	Tes Slater	Conservative Party	89	6.7%	—
5	Edward Craven	Liberal Democrats	72	5.4%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 1,326 · EC ward code local.preston.ribbleton.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Deepdale · single-seat

Marginal winner 54.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota +4.1 pts Valid ballots 2,255

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Zafar Coupland	Labour Party	1,219	54.1%	+4.1 pts	Elected
2	Kevin David Rigotti	Green Party	636	28.2%	—
3	John Knight	Reform UK	231	10.2%	—
4	Nathalie Cain	Liberal Democrats	87	3.9%	—
5	Nigel Antony Lister	Conservative Party	82	3.6%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,255 · EC ward code local.preston.deepdale.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index