Local Council Election 2026 Results

The Liberal Democrats retained control of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council after the 2026 elections.

At the local elections held on May 7th 2026, the Liberal Democrats secured a dominant victory in Tunbridge Wells, winning 11 of the 15 seats contested across 13 wards. The council remains under the Liberal Democrats continuing as the largest party and holding the leadership.

Local Election Summary

The election results for the seats contested in 2026 are as follows:

  • Liberal Democrats: 11 seats won
  • Conservatives: 2 seats won
  • Tunbridge Wells Alliance: 1 seat won
  • Independents for Tunbridge Wells: 1 seat won
  • Labour, Green Party, and Reform UK: 0 seats won

Cranbrook Sissinghurst and Frittenden - results

Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 Alexander Ellison Conservatives 1227 46% Elected
 Matthew Beattie Reform UK 674 25% Not elected
 Vivian Alice Widgery Liberal Democrats    384 14% Not elected
 Paul Jeremy Keith Froome             Green Party 370 14% Not elected

 

Culverden - results

Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 David Osborne Liberal Democrats   1402 49% Elected
 Robert George Alexander Dunn       Conservatives 685 24% Not elected
 Tina Seymour Reform UK 406 14% Not elected
 Mark McBennett Green Party 230 8% Not elected
 Aleksander Klimanski Labour 85 3% Not elected
 Ahsan Azam Ahmad Independent 27 1% Not elected

 

Hawkhurst Sandhurst and Benenden - results

Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 Ellen Neville Tunbridge Wells Alliance 943 32% Elected
 Rosanna Taylor-Smith Conservatives 894 30% Not elected
 John Spence Reform UK 767 26% Not elected
 Michael Edward Appelbe Liberal Democrats 373 13% Not elected

 

Paddock Wood - results
Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 Christopher Digby Liberal Democrats        1195 39% Elected
 Begnat Robichaud Reform UK 882 29% Not elected
 Lynne Scott Conservatives 749 25% Not elected
 Trevor Tyrone Bisdee             Green Party 207 7% Not elected

 

Pantiles - results

Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 Pamela Wilkinson Liberal Democrats         1246 41% Elected
 Daniel Dzenkowski             Conservatives 931 31% Not elected
 Kris Niewolski Reform UK 531 17% Not elected
 Joe Mattei Green Party 232 8% Not elected
 Frankel Nutland Labour 100 3% Not elected

 

Park - results

Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 Richard Brown Liberal Democrats 1515 48% Elected
 Mike Jerrom Reform UK 523 17% Not elected
 David Allister Scott Conservatives 497 16% Not elected
 Nick Pope Tunbridge Wells Alliance 268 9% Not elected
 Alasdair James Milner Fraser Green Party 250 8% Not elected
 Stephen Edward Roger Burgess Labour 91 3% Not elected

 

Pembury and Capel - results
Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 David Hayward Independents for Tunbridge Wells 934 30% Elected
 Niccholas Slessor-Pavely Liberal Democrats 916 29% Not elected
 Valeria Dachille Reform UK 659 21% Not elected
 Andrew George Hobart Conservatives 466 15% Not elected
 Susan Lovell Green Party 167 5% Not elected

 

Rural Tunbridge Wells - results

Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 David Knight Conservatives 1474 37% Elected
 Susan Hindle Barone        Liberal Democrats           1131 29% Not elected
 Dennis Deane Reform UK 987 25% Not elected
 Helen Claire Yeo Green Party 274 7% Not elected
 Anne Priscilla Musker Labour 73 2% Not elected

 

Rusthall and Speldhurst - results
Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 Ian William Standing Liberal Democrats 1192 34% Elected
 David Sumner Conservatives 717 21% Not elected
 Robert Grindley Reform UK 655 19% Not elected
 Kit Hawes-Webb Tunbridge Wells Alliance           352 10% Not elected
 Gregory James Holder Labour 317 9% Not elected
 Stephanie Gandon Green Party 264 8% Not elected

 

Sherwood - results

Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 Courtney Souper Liberal Democrats         847 18% Elected
 Andrew Wallace Liberal Democrats 787 17% Elected
 Chris Hoare Reform UK 592 13% Not elected
 Oliver Kinkade Reform UK 549 12% Not elected
 Christian Robert Atwood      Conservatives 453 10% Not elected
 Kate Sergeant Green Party 445 10% Not elected
 Eben Phoebe Lenton Green Party 420 9% Not elected
 Ellis Wiggins Conservatives 384 8% Not elected
 Tina Kesterton Labour 176 4% Not elected

 

Southborough and Bidborough - results
Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 Kimberley Johnson           Liberal Democrats         1614 25% Elected
 Ash Shukla Liberal Democrats 1531 23% Elected
 Steven Humphreys Reform UK 719 11% Not elected
 Robert Mayall Reform UK 675 10% Not elected
 Richard Long Conservatives 652 10% Not elected
 Jack Bradley Conservatives 615 9% Not elected
 Maria Gavin Green Party 435 7% Not elected
 Iqbal Sidhu Green Party 280 4% Not elected
 Aaron James Brand English Democrats 62 1% Not elected

 

St James' - results

Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 Gavin Barrass                  Liberal Democrats           1478 58% Elected
 Philip Dwyer Reform UK 365 14% Not elected
 Lucy Ann Miller Green Party 316 12% Not elected
 George Barr Conservatives 271 11% Not elected
 Nicholas Maltby Labour 130 5% Not elected

 

St John's - results
Election Candidate Party Votes % Outcome
 Ukonu Obasi Liberal Democrats        1047 56% Elected
 Chris Pendleton Reform UK 293 16% Not elected
 Lewis Patrick Jenkins           Green Party 254 13% Not elected
 Alex Lewis-Grey Conservatives 220 12% Not elected
 Lorna Blackmore Labour 71 4% Not elected

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