Reform UK gains four seats as Peterborough City Council remains deeply divided

Peterborough City Council will remain under no overall control after voters delivered another fragmented local election result, with Reform UK making major gains across the city and the Conservatives emerging as the largest group.

Counting finished at Kingsgate Community Church on Friday morning following polling on Thursday, May 7, 2026, for 18 council seats.

Reform UK emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, taking four seats and increasing its representation on the council to five councillors overall. The breakthrough builds on the party’s earlier by-election success in Peterborough this year and signals changing political dynamics across the city.

'UKIP's here!' New Reform councillor corrected on which party he now represents. #LocalElections2026 pic.twitter.com/ND8asGICli

— Emma Volney (@emmavolney) May 8, 2026

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The Conservatives secured six of the contested seats despite a net loss of one overall, ending on 13 councillors. However, the figures quickly sparked debate online over how the results should be interpreted.

Political commentator Phil Rodgers noted that while the Conservatives recorded four gains, they also lost five seats overall.

Posting on X, he said: “Four Conservative gains in Peterborough – but there were also five losses, making a net loss of one seat. Still, it could have been worse for the Conservatives, who are now the largest group on a deeply divided council.”

Four Conservative gains in Peterborough – but there were also five losses, making a net loss of one seat. Still it could have been worse for the Conservatives, who are now the largest group on a deeply divided council. https://t.co/DzVTU0JBn3

— Phil Rodgers (@PhilRodgers) May 8, 2026

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Mayor Paul Bristow pushed back on suggestions the Conservatives had underperformed, arguing that previous defections had distorted comparisons with earlier election cycles.

Responding directly to Rodgers online, Mr Bristow said: “Six gains – context Greens won Ravensthorpe last time and the Conservative who won in 2022 defected to the Greens. I am taking that as a Con gain. Peterborough First Independents won Hargate last time and the Conservative who won in 2022 defected to them. Again, this is a Con gain.”

The result means the Conservatives now hold 13 seats on the authority, although that figure includes the Dogsthorpe ward victory of Ishfaq Hussain, who had been selected as a Conservative candidate before later being suspended by the party following reports of offensive social media posts.

His suspension came after ballot papers had already been printed, meaning he still appeared on the ballot as a Conservative candidate.

Labour endured a difficult night, winning only two seats and suffering a net loss of four councillors to fall to 11 overall.

Peterborough seemingly the city where everyone is a winner pic.twitter.com/MjdXgV5UBs

— Luke Tryl (@LukeTryl) May 8, 2026

Andrew Pakes, the city’s Labour MP, described the outcome as a “mixed bag” for Labour locally.

He said: “Mixed bag of results for Labour today in Peterborough. Holds and losses. Thank you to everyone who voted and voted Labour. We need to do better. That needs calm heads and listening to public rather than an internal party soap opera.”

The Liberal Democrats held steady after winning three seats to maintain eight councillors, while the Green Party increased its representation to six councillors after gaining two seats.

Independent groups and smaller parties continue to wield considerable influence in the authority, with Independents holding nine seats and Peterborough First eight.

The final composition of Peterborough City Council now stands at:

• Conservative – 13
• Labour – 11
• Liberal Democrat – 8
• Reform UK – 5
• Green Party – 6
• Independent – 9
• Peterborough First – 8

Overall turnout reached 35.24 per cent, according to council figures.

The result leaves no party close to the 31 seats required for overall control, meaning coalition negotiations or minority administration discussions are expected in the coming days.

The fractured political picture prompted strong reaction online, with one social media post describing the council makeup as “absolutely schizophrenic” and questioning “how do you even form an administration out of this”.

Independent councillor Mark Ormston said the election underlined how politically divided the city has become.

“Peterborough remains NOC,” he said. “I suspect the Conservative Party will see themselves as the night’s winners. Reform won four out of the 18 seats available. Well done to all the candidates and many congratulations to everyone elected this evening.”

Overall turnout across the elections was 35.24 per cent.

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The results saw gains spread across several parties and independents, with victories for Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Reform UK and local independent candidates.

Bretton

REFORM GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE

Turnout: 30.8%

Central

LABOUR HOLD

Turnout: 34.17%

Dogsthorpe

CONSERVATIVE GAIN (WINNING CANDIDATE SUSPENDED FROM PARTY)

Turnout: 32%

East

LABOUR HOLD

Turnout: 34.6%

Eye, Thorney and Newborough

REFORM GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE

Turnout: 41.56%

Fletton and Stanground

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD

Turnout: 32.2%

Fletton and Woodston

GREEN GAIN FROM LABOUR

Turnout: 34.5%

Gunthorpe

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD

Turnout: 39.7%

Hampton Vale

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE

Turnout: 29.3%

Hargate and Hempsted

CONSERVATIVE GAIN FROM PETERBOROUGH FIRST

Turnout: 29.3%

North

CONSERVATIVE GAIN FROM LABOUR

Turnout: 32.6%

Orton Longueville

REFORM GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE

Turnout: 33.85%

Orton Waterville

GREEN GAIN FROM INDEPENDENT

Turnout: 42.7%

Park

CONSERVATIVE GAIN FROM LABOUR

Turnout: 39.4%

Paston and Walton

CONSERVATIVE GAIN FROM LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

Turnout: 35.8%

Ravensthorpe

CONSERVATIVE GAIN FROM GREEN

Turnout: 39.6%

Stanground South

REFORM GAIN FROM PETERBOROUGH FIRST

Turnout: 30.5%

Werrington

PETERBOROUGH FIRST HOLD

Turnout: 40.7%

Party performance summary

The highest turnout was recorded in Orton Waterville at 42.7 per cent, while the lowest was in Hampton Vale and Hargate and Hempsted, both at 29.3 per cent.

Party performance summary