Voters across Oxford went to the polls on Thursday 7 May 2026, leading to significant changes in the makeup of the Oxford City Council. Results, which were confirmed in the early hours of Friday 8 May 2026, showed a voter turnout of 43.5 percent across all 24 wards.
The Green Party saw notable success, winning 9 of the 24 seats up for election and increasing their total number of councillors to 13. Among the successful Green candidates, Edward Mundy secured victory in Cowley with 1,031 votes, while Kate Robinson won in Marston with 969 votes. In a tightly contested race in Lye Valley, James Thorniley took the seat with 500 votes, narrowly defeating Labour and Reform UK candidates.
Despite losing 5 seats compared to the previous election cycle, Labour remains the largest group on the council with 20 seats overall. The party successfully defended several key areas, with Susan Brown retaining her seat in Churchill, Lubna Arshad holding Blackbird Leys, and Louise Upton remaining in office for Walton Manor. Additionally, the Liberal Democrats held their position in Summertown, where Katherine Sarah Miles secured 836 votes.
While Reform UK did not win any seats, they established a visible presence in the city, recording significant vote shares in multiple areas including Blackbird Leys and Barton and Sandhills. Following these results, the council remains under no overall control, and Labour is expected to continue leading a minority administration.
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