Labour Retains Majority in Reading Council Elections

Labour stays in charge of Reading Borough Council but with a reduced majority after the 2026 elections.

Before the vote Labour had 31 councillors, the Green Party 8, Conservatives 3, Liberal Democrats 3, plus Clarence Mitchell (Reform UK) and independent Sarah Hacker. Labour now has 28 councillors, three above the 25 needed for a majority.

Of the 17 seats contested Labour won seven, the Greens six, the Conservatives three and the Lib Dems one. The Greens took three seats from Labour in Abbey, Thames and Coley and effectively gained the Caversham Heights seat vacated by Sam Juthani.

Labour held seven seats overall but lost those wards. The Greens also held three seats. The Conservatives effectively won two seats and held the seat of Cllr Isobel Ballsdon. Liberal Democrat Meri O'Connell held Tilehurst.

Clarence Mitchell, the Reform UK councillor for Emmer Green, lost to Conservative Alex Smith. The vacancy left by independent Sarah Hacker was filled by Labour candidate Pratikshya Gurung. Hacker was elected for Labour in 2022 but was removed from the party in April 2023.

In-person voting was on Thursday 7 May, with results coming in the morning of Friday 8 May.

See the council graphic below:

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter