Local elections 2026: Labour lose control of Coventry council but remain largest party
Amidst local elections across the country yielding poor results for the Labour Party, they have lost control of Coventry City Council, with multiple cabinet members losing their seats.
Labour remains the largest party in the city with 24 councillors elected, only four short of a majority, and are still likely to lead the council.
As a Metropolitan District Council, the new council will have powers regarding most local services, including waste collection, roads, and social services. Ultimately, Coventry City Council is overseen by the West Midlands Combined Authority, on which one member of the incoming council will be indirectly elected to serve.
The new council won’t, however, handle matters such as transport planning, economic development, infrastructure, or climate and sustainability, which will instead be managed by the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Almost all of Labour’s losses came to the benefit of Reform UK, whose strong momentum nationwide has been replicated in the West Midlands, gaining 20 seats.
Wainbody, the ward containing the vast majority of campus, has returned three Conservative councillors, and Reform UK have gained all three seats in Tile Hill and Canley
The remainder of the councils 54 seats went to the Conservatives and the Greens, who will be looking to secure influence in negotiations for the formation of a council administration.
Former Warwick student Grace Lewis, whose nomination was proposed by Warwick SU’s VP for Democracy and Development, James Varney, lost her seat in the election.
She had been elected previously as a Labour councillor but left the party in 2025, continuing to serve as an Independent councillor.
Specific demographic data concerning election turnout is yet to be released, so it is unclear how Warwick University’s student body impacted the results
Labour will have the preeminent position in the coming days, with Labour sources reportedly confident in an agreement with the Greens which would bring them above the 28-seat threshold.
Wainbody, the ward containing the vast majority of campus, has returned three Conservative councillors, and Reform UK have gained all three seats in Tile Hill and Canley, which previously elected one Conservative, one Labour, and one Green.
Conversely, Labour has held all three seats in Earlsdon, despite polling suggesting Reform UK and the Greens would take those seats between them.
Specific demographic data concerning election turnout is yet to be released, so it is unclear how Warwick University’s student body impacted the results.
Labour: 24 (-17)
Reform UK: 20 (+20)
Conservative: 6 (-5)
Green: 4 (+2)
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