The Liberal Democrats have decisively retained control of Cheltenham Borough Council after securing 17 of the 20 seats contested in the May 7 local elections. This result reinforces their dominance at the Municipal Offices, where they previously held 36 of the 40 seats.
Cheltenham’s borough council generally holds elections for half its seats at a time, and this year only 20 were up for grabs. The Liberal Democrats successfully defended almost all of their seats, signaling strong local support for their policies and approach.
The Green Party, which entered the elections holding three seats, managed to retain their two contested wards: St Paul’s and Prestbury. The party now aims to build momentum ahead of next year’s elections to the new shadow unitary authority, according to Green group leader Ashleigh Davies, who was re-elected for St Paul’s.
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Meanwhile, Reform UK has gained a foothold in Cheltenham’s council for the first time, capturing a seat in Hester’s Way with councillor Callum Eldridge pledging to represent the entire community. Despite this breakthrough, local Lib Dem MP Max Wilkinson expressed regret that the vote split contributed to the result.
Conservative candidates, despite a reportedly improved reception this election cycle, failed to secure any seats and remain unrepresented on the council. The Labour Party also fell short of winning seats in this borough.
Lib Dem council leader Rowena Hay emphasized the party’s commitment to honest, community-focused campaigning, rejecting divisive politics. “Don’t misrepresent, don’t mislead. Be honest. If you’re honest, people might actually trust you,” Hay said. Both Hay and Wilkinson framed the election outcome as a rejection of divisive political tactics, highlighting the electorate’s support for positive change.
Crucially, the election result enables the council to proceed with the ambitious Golden Valley development—a flagship project aimed at establishing Cheltenham as the premier UK hub for cyber technology adjacent to GCHQ. The project is set to create around 12,000 jobs and was a key issue on the ballot.
Cheltenham’s political composition following the election is now: 35 Liberal Democrats, 3 Greens, 1 Reform UK councillor, and 1 seat held by People Against Bureaucracy. Voter turnout rose significantly to 44.41%, up from 35% in the previous election.