Local elections 2026: Who runs Swindon now?

Swindon's biggest-ever local election is over.

This was the first time in 14 years that all seats were contested and there were more candidates standing than ever before. There was also a higher than average turnout of 43.9%.

However, with no one party winning more than half of council seats, and therefore no majority, what happens now?

This is our guide to what comes next.

Labour lost majority control of the council just three years after taking it back from the Conservatives.

In what was a surprise, even to them, the Conservatives are once again the largest political party in Swindon, having won 23 out of 57 council seats, ahead of Labour on 19, Reform with 14 and one Liberal Democrat.

But the Tories didn't do well enough to claim overall control so are left with two options - run the council as a minority administration or form a coalition administration with another party.

They have ruled out the latter.

On Monday evening the party will host its AGM to formally decide who they want to put forward as council leader and deputy leader.

From there, they will look at their 22 other councillors and who might take up other roles in the cabinet and make some appointments in the coming days.

Technically, Labour continues to run the authority until the council's first post-election annual meeting on Friday 22 May.

This is where one party gets on with running a local authority despite not having more than half of councillors.

The other parties could join together as a coalition to prevent a Conservative-led administration.

But Labour is not interested in joining forces with Reform and the Conservatives want to be in the driving seat so a minority Conservative administration is the outcome.

The current leader of Swindon Conservatives Gary Sumner said: "We want the best things for our town.

"I'm sure Labour will want to support us in that and we will work together when we need to."

The Conservatives can get on with the general running of the council, putting some of their policies into place and making plans for the future.

When it comes to decisions that need to go to full council for a vote, like setting budgets and bigger planning matters, they will need to rely on co-operation from other Labour and Reform councillors to get things through.

Labour leader Jim Robbins said there will be conversations about how the two parties can work together.

"We feel we've made a real difference and want to see that progress continued," he said.

Robbins also believes we may see some give and take in which Labour and Reform policies could get Conservative backing because they will be relying on councillors from these parties to back their own plans.

The alternative is endless political jostling over decisions that affect people in Swindon - something all parties say they are keen to avoid.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.