Reform UK has emerged as the largest party across Bournemouth, Poole and Broadstone following the first town council elections.
The party secured 25 of the 50 available seats across the 3 new councils, giving it exactly 50% of all councillors elected. Liberal Democrats won 17 seats, representing 34% of the total, while the Green Party secured 4 seats, Labour and Labour and Co-operative candidates won 2, and independents claimed the remaining 2 seats.
Several wards delivered strong performances for Reform UK candidates, particularly across Bournemouth and Poole. The party won both available seats in Kinson, Muscliff and Moordown, Strouden and Queen’s Park, Oakdale and South-East Creekmoor, and Northbourne, Redhill, Wallisdown North and Winton West.
Some of the largest individual vote totals also went to Reform UK candidates. Mark Harper secured 1,923 votes in Northbourne, Redhill, Wallisdown North and Winton West, while Mark Edward John Anderson received 1,887 votes in Strouden and Queen’s Park.
The Liberal Democrats recorded their strongest results in Southbourne and Tuckton, Branksome West and Penn Hill, and parts of Broadstone, where they secured multiple seats. The Green Party won both seats in East Cliff and Springbourne, while Labour secured representation in Boscombe and Pokesdown and Littledown and Iford.
Turnout levels varied significantly across the conurbation. Merley recorded the highest turnout at 50.61%, closely followed by Broadstone West at 50.18% and Broadstone East at 49.35%. East Cliff and Springbourne recorded the lowest turnout at 25.99%.
Some wards also produced narrow contests. In Canford Heath, Reform UK candidate Harry Charles Witt missed election by just 47 votes, while Boscombe and Pokesdown saw Reform UK narrowly miss a second seat by 59 votes.
Here are the key breakdowns from all 24 wards:
• Boscombe and Pokesdown produced a split result, with Labour and Co-operative candidate George Farquhar elected alongside Reform UK’s Duane William Farr. Reform UK narrowly missed taking both seats by 59 votes. Turnout was 31.56%.
• Winton East, Charminster West and Talbot Woods delivered another mixed outcome. Green Party candidate Simon Richard George Bull topped the poll, while Reform UK’s Kieron Glynn Franklin secured the second seat. Turnout reached 33.50%.
• Strouden and Queen’s Park saw Reform UK win both seats comfortably. Mark Edward John Anderson topped the poll with 1,887 votes ahead of fellow Reform UK candidate Roberto Rocca. Turnout stood at 33.46%.
• Southbourne and Tuckton was one of the Liberal Democrats’ strongest wards. Bernadette Nanovo topped the poll with 2,012 votes, while Jeff Hanna secured the second seat. Turnout reached 42.40%.
• Northbourne, Redhill, Wallisdown North and Winton West returned 2 Reform UK councillors with large vote totals. Mark Harper secured 1,923 votes, the highest individual total in Bournemouth. Turnout was 36.82%.
• Muscliff and Moordown delivered another Reform UK double victory. Sarah Catherine Anderson and Steve Butcher were both elected, while independent Toby Edward George Slade finished third. Turnout stood at 35.78%.
• Littledown and Iford saw a split between Labour and Reform UK. Patrick Connolly won for Labour, while Gill Seymour secured the second seat for Reform UK. Turnout reached 38.54%.
• Kinson recorded a decisive Reform UK result, with William Brown and Laurence Fear both elected on more than 1,700 votes each. No other candidate reached 700 votes. Turnout was 29.69%.
• East Cliff and Springbourne elected both Green Party candidates. Sara Louise Armstrong topped the poll with 1,525 votes, while Ben Martin O’Keeffe secured the second seat. The ward recorded the lowest turnout at 25.99%.
• Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs delivered a strong Reform UK victory. John David Pearce won the single available seat with 1,352 votes. Turnout reached 47.58%.
• Parkstone, Lilliput and Sandbanks produced a split result between Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats. Xena Mary Anne Dion topped the poll for Reform UK, while Crispin James Goodall secured the second seat for the Liberal Democrats. Turnout was 41.64%.
• Old Town and Baiter elected Reform UK candidate Tracey Newman with 634 votes. Green Party candidate Ben Pantling finished second. Turnout stood at 34.05%.
• Oakdale and South-East Creekmoor saw Reform UK comfortably win both seats. Steven Cowan and Steve Hayes both polled more than 1,800 votes. Turnout reached 36.63%.
• Newtown also returned 2 Reform UK councillors. Jon Ayres narrowly topped the poll ahead of fellow Reform UK candidate Michael Thomas Ian Day. Turnout was 33.59%.
• Merley delivered a clear Liberal Democrat victory. Marcus Julian Charles Andrews won the single available seat with 1,187 votes. The ward recorded the highest turnout overall at 50.61%.
• Longfleet and Sterte elected Reform UK’s Melvyn Christopher Law with 655 votes ahead of Liberal Democrat Martin Alistair Rodger. Turnout stood at 35.08%.
• Hamworthy West and Turlin Moor delivered one of Reform UK’s strongest wins. Mark Aron James White secured 783 votes, more than double the total of the second-placed candidate. Turnout reached 30.52%.
• Hamworthy East elected Reform UK candidate Daniel Alfred Bleeze with 779 votes. Liberal Democrat Judith Alison Chapman finished second. Turnout was 36.52%.
• Creekmoor and Waterloo saw Reform UK’s David Anthony Youlden win by one of the largest margins of the elections, finishing more than 600 votes ahead of the Liberal Democrats. Turnout stood at 34.66%.
• Canford Heath produced one of the closest contests. Liberal Democrat Sandra Elizabeth Hazel Moore topped the poll, while Reform UK’s Kevin Andrew Stewart secured the second seat. Reform UK candidate Harry Charles Witt missed out by just 47 votes. Turnout was 37.81%.
• Branksome West and Penn Hill returned 2 Liberal Democrat councillors. Marion Le Poidevin topped the poll with 1,794 votes, ahead of Oliver John Walters. Turnout reached 38.55%.
• Broadstone East returned a mixed result, with 2 Liberal Democrats, 1 Reform UK councillor and 1 independent elected. Mike Brooke topped the poll with 972 votes. Turnout stood at 49.35%.
• Broadstone West also produced a mixed outcome. Liberal Democrats secured 2 seats, while Reform UK and an independent each won 1 seat. Jo Tebbs topped the poll with 965 votes. Turnout reached 50.18%.
• Across all 24 wards, Reform UK emerged as the largest party overall, winning 25 of the 50 available town council seats across Bournemouth, Poole and Broadstone.
Aidan Dunn, Returning Officer, said: “I want to thank the incredible efforts of the hundreds of staff who have helped deliver this election.
“I also want to recognise all the candidates for their work over the last six weeks to engage with our residents across Bournemouth, Poole and Broadstone.”
The new town councils legally came into existence on 1 April 2026. Since then, staff employed by the new councils have been putting in place the governance arrangements, policies and systems needed to support the councils’ work.
Following the election, each town council will hold its Annual Meeting to confirm key roles, such as Mayor or Chair and to agree its committees and priorities.
After that, the councils will begin their usual programme of meetings and activities in line with their governance arrangements, focusing on delivering local priorities for residents.