← Suffolk (all cycles) · 7 May 2026 cohort

Suffolk 2026

Local elections held 7 May 2026.

23 ward races

23 seats

22 elected below the proportional quota

95.7% 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 23 wards in this cycle, parties received the vote totals below. The proportional column shows what each party would have won if the 23 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	27,051	33.3%	14	60.9%	8	34.8%	+6
Conservative Party	21,724	26.7%	6	26.1%	7	30.4%	-1
Green Party	15,963	19.6%	3	13.0%	5	21.7%	-2
Labour Party	7,627	9.4%	0	0.0%	2	8.7%	-2
Liberal Democrats	5,924	7.3%	0	0.0%	1	4.3%	-1
Independent	2,937	3.6%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party	25	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Communist Party of Britain	17	0.0%	0	0.0%	0	0.0%	0
Total	81,268	100.0%	23	100.0%	23	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

The 2026 cycle was an all-out election — every seat was contested. The two opencouncildata snapshots below show the council immediately after the 2026 election (current) and on the eve of it (2025), so you can see what the result replaced.

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.

Blyth Estuary · 1 seat · won at 26.9% · −23.1 pts below quota
Eastgate and Moreton Hall · 1 seat · won at 28.2% · −21.8 pts below quota
Exning and Newmarket · 1 seat · won at 30.3% · −19.7 pts below quota
Abbeygate and Minden · 1 seat · won at 31.8% · −18.2 pts below quota
St Olaves and Tollgate · 1 seat · won at 32.3% · −17.7 pts below quota
Mildenhall · 1 seat · won at 35.1% · −14.9 pts below quota
Haverhill East and Rural · 1 seat · won at 35.1% · −14.9 pts below quota
Clare · 1 seat · won at 36.3% · −13.7 pts below quota
Newmarket and Red Lodge · 1 seat · won at 36.5% · −13.5 pts below quota
Blackbourn · 1 seat · won at 38.1% · −11.9 pts below quota
Haverhill South · 1 seat · won at 38.9% · −11.1 pts below quota
Carlford · 1 seat · won at 40.1% · −9.9 pts below quota
Barrow and Thingoe · 1 seat · won at 41.9% · −8.1 pts below quota
Brandon · 1 seat · won at 42.8% · −7.2 pts below quota
Harbour · 1 seat · won at 43.2% · −6.8 pts below quota
Felixstowe Maritime · 1 seat · won at 43.4% · −6.6 pts below quota
Bungay · 1 seat · won at 43.5% · −6.5 pts below quota
Row Heath · 1 seat · won at 43.6% · −6.4 pts below quota
Halesworth · 1 seat · won at 45.7% · −4.3 pts below quota
Carlton and Whitton · 1 seat · won at 47.0% · −3.0 pts below quota
Hardwick · 1 seat · won at 47.8% · −2.2 pts below quota
Haverhill North West and Withersfield · 1 seat · won at 49.8% · −0.2 pts below quota
Carlton Colville · 1 seat · won at 51.1% · above quota

Race results

Blyth Estuary · single-seat

Marginal winner 26.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −23.1 pts Valid ballots 4,113

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	John Matthews	Reform UK	1,108	26.9%	−23.1 pts	Elected
2	John Crumpton Cooper	Conservative Party	877	21.3%	—
3	Andrew Turner	Liberal Democrats	866	21.1%	—
4	Rachel Kellett	Green Party	778	18.9%	—
5	Michael Rowan-Robinson	Labour Party	484	11.8%	—

Electorate 8,104 · Ballots cast 4,126 · Invalid 13 · EC ward code local.suffolk.blyth-estuary.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Eastgate and Moreton Hall · single-seat

Marginal winner 28.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −21.8 pts Valid ballots 3,788

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Simon Aalders	Reform UK	1,070	28.2%	−21.8 pts	Elected
2	Andy McGowan	Liberal Democrats	856	22.6%	—
3	Birgitte Mager	Conservative Party	794	21.0%	—
4	Cliff Waterman	Labour Party	537	14.2%	—
5	Yarrow Jeffery	Green Party	531	14.0%	—

Electorate 8,729 · Ballots cast 3,795 · Invalid 7 · EC ward code local.suffolk.eastgate-moreton-hall.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Exning and Newmarket · single-seat

Marginal winner 30.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −19.7 pts Valid ballots 3,632

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Andrew Burton	Reform UK	1,101	30.3%	−19.7 pts	Elected
2	Ben Greening	Conservative Party	955	26.3%	—
3	Jon London	Liberal Democrats	825	22.7%	—
4	Debbie Clarke	Green Party	479	13.2%	—
5	Shelagh Rose Kavanagh	Labour Party	272	7.5%	—

Electorate 9,439 · Ballots cast 3,646 · Invalid 14 · EC ward code local.suffolk.exning-newmarket.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Abbeygate and Minden · single-seat

Marginal winner 31.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −18.2 pts Valid ballots 3,930

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Dylan William Roques	Green Party	1,249	31.8%	−18.2 pts	Elected
2	Catherine Mustoe	Reform UK	903	23.0%	—
3	Mark David Winter	Conservative Party	607	15.4%	—
4	Donna Higgins	Labour Party	580	14.8%	—
5	Paul Hopfensperger	Independent	442	11.2%	—
6	Aiden Roe	Liberal Democrats	132	3.4%	—
7	Darren Alan Turner	Communist Party of Britain	17	0.4%	—

Electorate 7,947 · Ballots cast 3,943 · Invalid 13 · EC ward code local.suffolk.abbeygate-minden.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

St Olaves and Tollgate · single-seat

Marginal winner 32.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −17.7 pts Valid ballots 3,052

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Martin Robinson	Reform UK	986	32.3%	−17.7 pts	Elected
2	Susie Dowling	Green Party	922	30.2%	—
3	Diane Hind	Labour Party	455	14.9%	—
4	Thomas Matthew Murray	Conservative Party	379	12.4%	—
5	David Nettleton	Independent	310	10.2%	—

Electorate 8,941 · Ballots cast 3,057 · Invalid 5 · EC ward code local.suffolk.st-olaves-tollgate.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Mildenhall · single-seat

Marginal winner 35.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −14.9 pts Valid ballots 3,392

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Louis Busuttil	Reform UK	1,189	35.1%	−14.9 pts	Elected
2	Ian Shipp	Independent	1,043	30.7%	—
3	Lance Stanbury	Conservative Party	613	18.1%	—
4	Claire Steed	Green Party	294	8.7%	—
5	Roxanne Debra Downes	Labour Party	147	4.3%	—
6	Zigurds Kronbergs	Liberal Democrats	74	2.2%	—
7	Chaz Chandler	Independent	32	0.9%	—

Electorate 8,631 · Ballots cast 3,396 · Invalid 4 · EC ward code local.suffolk.mildenhall.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Haverhill East and Rural · single-seat

Marginal winner 35.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −14.9 pts Valid ballots 3,612

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Luke Thomas O'Brien	Reform UK	1,268	35.1%	−14.9 pts	Elected
2	Nick Clarke	Conservative Party	1,240	34.3%	—
3	Luke Stannett	Green Party	496	13.7%	—
4	Quinn Cox	Labour Party	371	10.3%	—
5	Chris Connor	Liberal Democrats	237	6.6%	—

Electorate 8,737 · Ballots cast 3,617 · Invalid 5 · EC ward code local.suffolk.haverhill-east-rural.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Clare · single-seat

Marginal winner 36.3% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −13.7 pts Valid ballots 4,171

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Bobby Bennett	Conservative Party	1,516	36.3%	−13.7 pts	Elected
2	Warren Rodwell	Reform UK	1,461	35.0%	—
3	Jessica Sibley	Green Party	541	13.0%	—
4	Hugo William Bovill	Liberal Democrats	379	9.1%	—
5	Adam Chadwick	Labour Party	274	6.6%	—

Electorate 8,058 · Ballots cast 4,180 · Invalid 9 · EC ward code local.suffolk.clare.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Newmarket and Red Lodge · single-seat

Marginal winner 36.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −13.5 pts Valid ballots 3,485

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Adrian Lawson Whittle	Reform UK	1,272	36.5%	−13.5 pts	Elected
2	Andy Drummond	Conservative Party	963	27.6%	—
3	Doug Taylor	Green Party	564	16.2%	—
4	Keith Norman Holland	Labour Party	421	12.1%	—
5	Katarina Keep	Liberal Democrats	265	7.6%	—

Electorate 9,917 · Ballots cast 3,491 · Invalid 6 · EC ward code local.suffolk.newmarket-red-lodge.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Blackbourn · single-seat

Marginal winner 38.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −11.9 pts Valid ballots 4,288

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Harry Richardson	Conservative Party	1,632	38.1%	−11.9 pts	Elected
2	Paul Christopher Brown	Reform UK	1,515	35.3%	—
3	Clare Higson	Green Party	733	17.1%	—
4	Rowena Lindberg	Labour Party	408	9.5%	—

Electorate 8,789 · Ballots cast 4,307 · Invalid 19 · EC ward code local.suffolk.blackbourn.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Haverhill South · single-seat

Marginal winner 38.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −11.1 pts Valid ballots 2,543

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Paul Littman	Reform UK	990	38.9%	−11.1 pts	Elected
2	Graham Cone	Conservative Party	657	25.8%	—
3	Mark Ereira	Green Party	543	21.4%	—
4	David Malcolm Smith	Labour Party	353	13.9%	—

Electorate 7,739 · Ballots cast 2,550 · Invalid 7 · EC ward code local.suffolk.haverhill-south.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Carlford · single-seat

Marginal winner 40.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −9.9 pts Valid ballots 4,758

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Elaine Bryce	Conservative Party	1,909	40.1%	−9.9 pts	Elected
2	Georgia Clare Aurelia Howell	Reform UK	1,196	25.1%	—
3	Stephen James Munson	Green Party	1,143	24.0%	—
4	Hugo Mason	Liberal Democrats	257	5.4%	—
5	Belinda Jane Randall	Labour Party	253	5.3%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 4,774 · Invalid 16 · EC ward code local.suffolk.carlford.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Barrow and Thingoe · single-seat

Marginal winner 41.9% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −8.1 pts Valid ballots 4,527

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Beccy Hopfensperger	Conservative Party	1,895	41.9%	−8.1 pts	Elected
2	Ian Charles Houlder	Reform UK	1,272	28.1%	—
3	Nicholas Peter Jeffreys	Green Party	595	13.1%	—
4	Will Howman	Labour Party	394	8.7%	—
5	Helen Korfanty	Liberal Democrats	371	8.2%	—

Electorate 8,801 · Ballots cast 4,542 · Invalid 15 · EC ward code local.suffolk.barrow-thingoe.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Brandon · single-seat

Marginal winner 42.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −7.2 pts Valid ballots 3,335

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Tim Kent	Reform UK	1,427	42.8%	−7.2 pts	Elected
2	David Palmer	Conservative Party	564	16.9%	—
3	Victor Lukaniuk	Independent	492	14.8%	—
4	Gemma Raymond	Green Party	387	11.6%	—
5	Wayne Bland	Independent	212	6.4%	—
6	Tony Paul Stewart Blacker	Labour Party	150	4.5%	—
7	Adam Robertson	Liberal Democrats	103	3.1%	—

Electorate 8,741 · Ballots cast 3,341 · Invalid 6 · EC ward code local.suffolk.brandon.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Harbour · single-seat

Marginal winner 43.2% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −6.8 pts Valid ballots 2,095

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Rob Ayling	Reform UK	904	43.2%	−6.8 pts	Elected
2	James Peter Marjoram	Green Party	471	22.5%	—
3	Tess Gandy	Labour Party	431	20.6%	—
4	May Reader	Conservative Party	180	8.6%	—
5	John Richard Shreeve	Liberal Democrats	109	5.2%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 2,113 · Invalid 18 · EC ward code local.suffolk.harbour.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Felixstowe Maritime · single-seat

Marginal winner 43.4% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −6.6 pts Valid ballots 3,264

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Tony Love	Reform UK	1,418	43.4%	−6.6 pts	Elected
2	Stephen Nicholas Wyatt	Green Party	696	21.3%	—
3	Georgina Gabriella Beatrice Allan	Conservative Party	456	14.0%	—
4	Rosie Smithson	Labour Party	393	12.0%	—
5	Jan Candy	Liberal Democrats	301	9.2%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 3,271 · Invalid 7 · EC ward code local.suffolk.felixstowe-maritime.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Bungay · single-seat

Marginal winner 43.5% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −6.5 pts Valid ballots 3,862

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Peter Aiano	Green Party	1,681	43.5%	−6.5 pts	Elected
2	Herbie Crossman	Reform UK	1,180	30.6%	—
3	Victoria Louise Drew-Batty	Conservative Party	629	16.3%	—
4	John Nicholas Awty	Liberal Democrats	207	5.4%	—
5	Tim Mobbs	Labour Party	140	3.6%	—
6	Eddie Marmite Salmagundy Henderson	The Official Monster Raving Loony Party	25	0.6%	—

Electorate 7,608 · Ballots cast 3,869 · Invalid 7 · EC ward code local.suffolk.bungay.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Row Heath · single-seat

Marginal winner 43.6% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −6.4 pts Valid ballots 3,368

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Don Waldron	Reform UK	1,469	43.6%	−6.4 pts	Elected
2	Susan Glossop	Conservative Party	860	25.5%	—
3	Tom Moore	Green Party	452	13.4%	—
4	David Anthony Taylor	Independent	406	12.1%	—
5	Joyce Amope Adenekan	Labour Party	181	5.4%	—

Electorate 8,525 · Ballots cast 3,373 · Invalid 5 · EC ward code local.suffolk.row-heath.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Halesworth · single-seat

Marginal winner 45.7% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −4.3 pts Valid ballots 3,857

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Annette Dunning	Green Party	1,761	45.7%	−4.3 pts	Elected
2	Garry Graham Debenham	Reform UK	1,064	27.6%	—
3	Lawrence Samuel Champion	Conservative Party	650	16.9%	—
4	Sally East	Liberal Democrats	224	5.8%	—
5	Ian Luff	Labour Party	158	4.1%	—

Electorate 0 · Ballots cast 3,873 · Invalid 16 · EC ward code local.suffolk.halesworth.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Carlton and Whitton · single-seat

Marginal winner 47.0% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −3.0 pts Valid ballots 2,946

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Richard Eric Read	Reform UK	1,384	47.0%	−3.0 pts	Elected
2	Jenny Ceresa	Conservative Party	677	23.0%	—
3	Rosemary Helen Brambley	Green Party	373	12.7%	—
4	Lewis Frederick Weller	Labour Party	341	11.6%	—
5	Dave O'Neill	Liberal Democrats	171	5.8%	—

Electorate 7,994 · Ballots cast 2,955 · Invalid 9 · EC ward code local.suffolk.carlton-whitton.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Hardwick · single-seat

Marginal winner 47.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −2.2 pts Valid ballots 3,559

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Richard Raydon Rout	Conservative Party	1,701	47.8%	−2.2 pts	Elected
2	Sheila Burke	Reform UK	747	21.0%	—
3	Grahame Starling	Green Party	544	15.3%	—
4	Judith Moore	Labour Party	353	9.9%	—
5	James Porter	Liberal Democrats	214	6.0%	—

Electorate 6,923 · Ballots cast 3,561 · Invalid 2 · EC ward code local.suffolk.hardwick.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Haverhill North West and Withersfield · single-seat

Marginal winner 49.8% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota −0.2 pts Valid ballots 3,056

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	Joe Mason	Conservative Party	1,523	49.8%	−0.2 pts	Elected
2	Heike Sowa	Reform UK	781	25.6%	—
3	Indy Wijenayaka	Labour Party	320	10.5%	—
4	Lizzie Eyre	Green Party	319	10.4%	—
5	Jessica Tovey	Liberal Democrats	113	3.7%	—

Electorate 7,842 · Ballots cast 3,063 · Invalid 7 · EC ward code local.suffolk.haverhill-north-west-withersfield.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index

Carlton Colville · single-seat

Marginal winner 51.1% Proportional quota 50.0% Below quota +1.1 pts Valid ballots 2,635

Rank	Candidate	Party	Votes	Share	Below quota	Elected
1	June Alison Mummery	Reform UK	1,346	51.1%	+1.1 pts	Elected
2	Letitia Vanessa Smith	Conservative Party	447	17.0%	—
3	Alan Thomas Barnes	Green Party	411	15.6%	—
4	Chris Thomas	Liberal Democrats	220	8.3%	—
5	Marilyn Anne Sayer	Labour Party	211	8.0%	—

Electorate 7,654 · Ballots cast 2,640 · Invalid 5 · EC ward code local.suffolk.carlton-colville.2026-05-07 · Back to ward index