Liberal Democrats keep control of council following 2026 local elections

The Liberal Democrats retained control of Wokingham Borough Council following the local elections on Thursday 7 May.

Residents went to the polls from 7am until 10pm as 19 seats were up across the borough’s 18 wards. 

Today (8 May), votes were verified and counted at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre from 9am until the final result was announced at 3.45pm. 

Verifying votes happens before the counting of votes begins. It confirms the correct number of votes are being counted.

Heading into this May’s elections, the Liberal Democrats held 27 seats, while the Conservatives, its main opposition, had 19 seats. Labour was the only other party with more than one seat prior, with five.  

The number of councillors now for each party are:

• Liberal Democrats – 29 seats 
• The Conservative Party – 19 seats 
• The Labour Party – 5 seats 
• Green Party – 1 seats  

Five parties – the Conservatives, Green Party, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK – had a candidate standing in each ward.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition put up candidates in two wards – Norreys, and Spencers Wood and Swallowfield – and there was one Independent candidate standing in Shinfield.

In the Wokingham Without ward, 10 candidates stood – two each from the five main political parties. They were contesting two seats following the resignation of a councillor earlier this year, which created a vacancy and a 19th seat up for election.

The council normally elects 18 or one-third of its total of 54 councillors every year for three years. It holds no elections in the fourth or ‘fallow’ year.

Alongside yesterday’s borough council elections, three seats were also up for election on Wokingham Town Council and a referendum was held with Charvil residents, in the borough’s Thames ward, on the parish’s Neighbourhood Plan.

All results have now been announced. They were as follows:

Wokingham Borough Council  

Barkham & Arborfield 

• Bose Mohima, Liberal Democrats – 1,328 votes (Elected – gain)
• Bowring Christopher John, Reform UK – 769 votes
• Feroz Asad, Green Party – 267 votes
• Graabek Sebastian, The Conservative Party – 866 votes
• Sykes Isla Emily, The Labour Party – 123 votes

There were 3,365 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 40%.

Bulmershe & Coronation

• Beard Laurence Paul, Green Party – 468 votes
• Croy Andy, The Labour Party – 452 votes
• Jordan Sheila Anne, Liberal Democrats – 584 votes  
• Meade Kai, Reform UK – 722 votes
• Salman Yusra, The Conservative Party – 1,238 votes (Elected – hold)

There were 3,474 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 49%.

Emmbrook

• Alvi Basit Sajjad, Liberal Democrats – 1,854 votes (Elected – hold)
• Clarke John Ralph, Reform UK – 678 votes
• Kolluru Gopi, The Labour Party – 159 votes
• Vernon Mark Jonathan, Green Party – 406 votes
• Westhorpe James, The Conservative Party – 1,005 votes

There were 4,116 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 51%.

Evendons

• Field Jeremy Michael, Reform UK – 672 votes
• Graabek Bjorn, The Conservative Party – 915 votes
• Hughes Joe, Green Party – 319 votes
• Medhurst Annette Laura, The Labour Party – 203 votes
• Singh Richa, Liberal Democrats – 1,382 votes (Elected – hold)

There were 3,498 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 49%.

Finchampstead

• Carter Shannon, Green Party – 262 votes
• Harper Peter, The Conservative Party – 1,630 votes (Elected – hold)
• Pluves Jac, The Labour Party – 115 votes
• Seraphin Laurent, Liberal Democrats – 1,310 votes  
• Surpless Stephen, Reform UK – 902 votes

There were 4,227 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 52%.

Hawkedon

• Craske Mark Ambrose, The Labour Party – 220 votes
• De Jong Melanie Cheryl, Liberal Democrats – 1,270 votes (Elected – hold)
• Firmager Michael John, The Conservative Party – 1,127 votes
• Milne Tom, Green Party – 343 votes
• Villaverde Sol, Reform UK – 578 votes

There were 3,544 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 46%.

Hillside

• Ainsworth Evan Peter, The Labour Party – 216 votes
• Kilby Nick, The Conservative Party – 1,305 votes
• Robins Amy Louise, Reform UK – 557 votes
• Seymour Russell Stewart, Green Party – 403 votes
• Smith Caroline, Liberal Democrats – 1,485 votes (Elected – hold)

There were 3,978 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 53%.

Loddon  

• Bragg David, The Conservative Party – 908 votes (Elected – gain)
• Harman Nigel Stuart, Liberal Democrats – 392 votes  
• Noble Rona Melanie, The Labour Party – 580 votes
• Simpson Stuart Andrew, Green Party – 522 votes
• Tyrrill Lance, Reform UK – 664 votes

There were 3,078 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 45%.

Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates

• Harris Lillie, Reform UK – 523 votes
• Hussain Wazir, The Conservative Party – 1,067 votes
• Langlois Samuel, Green Party – 509 votes
• Morris Mary Elizabeth, The Labour Party – 425 votes
• NG Siu-hong Andy, Liberal Democrats – 1,491 votes (Elected – hold)

There were 4,026 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 49%.

Norreys

• Cunnington Phil, The Conservative Party – 798 votes
• Gillman Sara Elizabeth, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition – 20 votes
• Halsall John Anthony Sydney, Reform UK – 655 votes
• Jones Alwyn Howard, Liberal Democrats – 568 votes  
• Lehal Kalveer Kaur, Green Party – 228 votes
• Nagella Nagi, The Labour Party – 896 votes (Elected – hold)

There were 3,173 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 46%.

Shinfield

• Batth Parry, Reform UK – 480 votes
• McKenzie Richard Mark, The Labour Party – 321 votes
• Rider Dominic Alain, Liberal Democrats – 268 votes
• Shaw Edward, Independent – 530 votes
• Srinivasan Vishal, The Conservative Party – 854 votes (Elected – hold)
• Titus Keiron, Green Party – 241 votes

There were 2,701 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 37%.

South Lake

• Gale William Francis John, The Labour Party – 238 votes
• Harris Andy, Reform UK – 770 votes
• Jewell Carol Ann, Liberal Democrats – 1,174 votes (Elected – hold)
• Kennedy Michael, The Conservative Party – 826 votes
• Shacklady Gary, Green Party – 614 votes

There were 3,626 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 49%.

Spencers Wood & Swallowfield

• Allan Gerry, Reform UK – 844 votes
• Allman Kathryn Jane, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition – 55 votes
• Blomley Tom, Green Party – 307 votes
• Johnson Chris, Liberal Democrats – 1,072 votes (Elected – gain)
• Pollock Anthony, The Conservative Party – 1,052 votes
• Steele Jacky, The Labour Party – 125 votes

There were 3,462 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 44%.

Thames

• Baker Salma, Green Party – 201 votes
• Cook Leon, The Conservative Party – 1,550 votes (Elected – gain)
• Crainer Stuart George, The Labour Party – 70 votes
• Harding Katrin, Liberal Democrats – 1,532 votes  
• McLaren Andrew James, Reform UK – 467 votes

There were 3,830 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 54%.

Twyford, Ruscombe & Hurst

• Andrea Martijn, Liberal Democrats – 2,535 votes (Elected – hold)
• Boniface Merv, Green Party – 330 votes
• Grant Darren James, Reform UK – 694 votes
• Hooper Stuart Ashley, The Labour Party – 82 votes
• Howe Graham, The Conservative Party – 643 votes

There were 4,291 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 54%.

Wescott

• Chapman David, Green Party – 398 votes
• Clubley Stephen, The Conservative Party – 953 votes
• Cooke Chris, Liberal Democrats – 1,398 votes (Elected – hold)
• Mayers Tom, The Labour Party – 150 votes
• Pigott James, Reform UK – 590 votes

There were 3,505 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 46%.

Winnersh

• Fife Jim, Reform UK – 677 votes
• Jamthe Chetna, Liberal Democrats – 1,464 votes (Elected – hold)
• Jinkerson Tim, The Labour Party – 91 votes
• Titchiner Laura, Green Party – 309 votes
• Washbourne Martyn, The Conservative Party – 729 votes

There were 3,270 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 41%.

Wokingham Without

• Bond Carl Andrew, Reform UK – 603 votes
• Brooks Roberta, Liberal Democrats – 1,160 votes (Elected – hold)
• Clark Tom, The Labour Party – 72 votes
• Davies David Owen Howell, The Conservative Party – 1,049 votes
• Heath Colin, The Labour Party – 55 votes
• Newbury Henry, Green Party – 177 votes
• Percy Jerry, Liberal Democrats – 1,108 votes  
• Turtle Seona, The Conservative Party – 1,197 votes (Elected – hold)
• Wright Colin, Reform UK – 631 votes
• Zilberman Guy, Green Party – 176 votes

There were 3,193 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 50%.

Wokingham Town Council

Emmbrook North Ward  

• Brown Andrew Michael, Liberal Democrats – 1,043 votes (Elected)
• Kolluru Gopi, The Labour Party – 186 votes
• Westhorpe James, The Conservative Party – 681 votes

There were 1,944 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 50%.

Evendons West Ward 

• Graabek Bjorn, The Conservative Party – 874 votes
• Harding Andy, The Labour Party – 144 votes
• Staunton JB, Liberal Democrats – 1,175 votes (Elected)

There were 2,217 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 51%.

Norreys East Ward  

• Clubley Steve, The Conservative Party – 867 votes (Elected)
• Hardie Jillian, Liberal Democrats – 753 votes  
• Weighill Marie-Louise, The Labour Party – 397 votes

There were 2,058 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 42%.

As a result, the number of councillors for each party on Wokingham Town Council are:

• Liberal Democrats – 17 seats 
• The Labour Party – 4 seats  
• The Conservative Party – 3 seats 
• Independent – 1 seat 

Charvil Neighbourhood Plan referendum 

‘Do you want Wokingham Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Charvil to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’

• Yes – 1,191 votes (Elected)
• No – 95 votes

There were 1,322 ballot papers issued and the turnout was 54%.