Labour candidates successfully held all three seats in the Bootle East ward following the Sefton Council all-out election held on 7 May 2026. Graeme Thomas Cooper, Maria Porter, and Brenda O’Brien were elected to represent the ward, securing 913, 895, and 841 votes respectively.
The election marked the first time since June 2004 that all 66 seats across 22 wards were contested at once. While the Labour Party maintained overall control of the council under leader Marion Atkinson, their majority has been significantly reduced. The party now holds 36 seats, down from 51, leaving them with a slim working majority of just six seats.
The voting in Bootle East highlighted a strong challenge from Reform UK, whose candidates collectively received approximately 34% of the votes cast in the ward. Although they did not secure a seat in this specific area, Reform UK gained five seats across the wider council area for the first time.
The local election results arrive as the area continues to undergo major changes, including the ongoing Bootle Strand regeneration programme. The first phase of the £30m project, which involves work by VINCI Building, has been in progress since the summer of 2025 to create new public spaces and community facilities.
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