Photo: N Scott · CC BY-SA 2.0Peterborough was decided by 118 votes in 2024
Peterborough is run by Peterborough City Council. No party holds a majority on Peterborough City Council. Most of Peterborough is in Peterborough (MP Andrew Pakes, Labour); 37% of residents are in North West Cambridgeshire (MP Sam Carling, Labour).
£2,288
Band D, a year, the middle band every council sets its tax from.
Where it goes →How Peterborough’s politics has changed since 2021
No majority on Peterborough City Council
The Conservatives, the largest group, hold 15 of its 60 seats as elected, 16 short of the 31 needed. Labour holds 13, the Liberal Democrats 9, Peterborough First 9, the Greens 7, Reform UK 5 and independents 2. Who’s in charge ↓
The 2026 vote
Across Peterborough’s wards, Reform UK took 26%, the Conservatives took 22.5% and the Greens took 17.4% of votes in May 2026. In 2024, Reform UK had 0.3%. How Peterborough has voted ↓
A close seat
Andrew Pakes (Labour) won Peterborough by 118 votes in July 2024, 0.28% of votes cast: the 10th-narrowest result of 543 in England. Parliament ↓
Council tax
A Band D bill in Peterborough is £2,279 for 2026–27; Peterborough City Council keeps 81% of it. The council area’s Band D has risen 60% in ten years, against England’s 56%. Council money ↓
Written from the data on this page: Democracy Club results since May 2021, the UK Parliament Members API and MHCLG council tax.
No party has a majority
Seats by party as elected. A party needs 31 of Peterborough’s 60 seats to run the council alone.
- Conservative15
- Labour13
- Liberal Democrat9
- Peterborough First9
- Green7
- Reform UK5
- Independent2
Latest election: May 2026.
Seats are counted from election results: each ward’s most recent winners until its seats are filled. Councillors who have since changed party or resigned aren’t reflected, and which parties lead the council, and who is leader, comes from the council itself.
Results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), elections since May 2021; seats per ward from its EveryElection.
The councils that run Peterborough
One council runs every main service here.
The parish council for the part of Peterborough inside Bretton parish.
7% of Peterborough’s residents · Band D precept £60
The parish council for the part of Peterborough inside Hampton Hargate and Vale parish.
Who runs Peterborough: same source as Who runs Peterborough, above.
The parish council for the part of Peterborough inside Orton Longueville parish.
Who runs Peterborough: same source as Who runs Peterborough, above.
The parish council for the part of Peterborough inside Orton Waterville parish.
Who runs Peterborough: same source as Who runs Peterborough, above.
Every main council service: schools, social care, roads, bins, planning, housing and libraries.
Website ↗Transport, skills and regeneration across several council areas. It is led by an elected mayor.
Mayor: Paul Bristow (Conservative), elected May 2025
Who to ask
From GOV.UK’s “Understand how your council works”: here one council runs every main service.
74% of Peterborough’s residents live outside any parish, with no parish council.
Councils from ONS lookups (wards and councils May 2026, parishes 2025), names and websites from GOV.UK’s local council finder; parish councils from MHCLG’s 2026–27 list of precepting parishes.
From the parish to Westminster
Every elected tier that speaks for Peterborough, from the most recent elections.
- 1Town or parish4 parish councilsBretton parish councilHampton Hargate and Vale parish councilOrton Longueville parish councilOrton Waterville parish council
- 2Peterborough City Council18 wards · 40 councillorsConservative 11 · Labour 9 · Green 6 · Liberal Democrat 6 · Reform UK 4 · Peterborough First 4 · Independent 1 · all 41
- 3Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined AuthorityCambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority · elected May 2025Paul Bristow
- 4Police and crime commissionerCambridgeshire Constabulary · elected May 2024Darryl Preston
- 5House of CommonsSplit between 2 constituencies
Party colours are neutral on purpose: they tell parties apart and aren’t the parties’ own. Tap an MP’s name for their contact page on parliament.uk.
40 councillors for 18 wards
Wards with at least 2% of the town’s residents, or half their own inside it. Each shows who won its most recent elections, newest first, until its seats are filled.
- Khurram IqbalLabour · May 2026
- Amjad IqbalLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Mohammed JamilLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
- Gul NawazConservative · May 2026
- Sam HemrajLabour and Co-operative · May 2026
- Javed AkhtarConservative · May 2026
- Murtaza Ahmed-MunirConservative · May 2026
- Angus Alexander EllisLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Arfan KhanConservative · May 2023
- Muhammad AsifConservative · May 2023
- Iva BanyalievaConservative · May 2026
- Ishfaq HussainConservative · May 2026
- Jason McNallyLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Katy Jane ColeLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
- Katherine SharpGreen · July 2026 · by-election
- Ed MurphyGreen · May 2026
- Andrew O'NeilReform UK · February 2026 · by-election
- Christian HoggLiberal Democrat · May 2026
- Polly GeraghtyLiberal Democrat · May 2024
- Philip Anthony WhitworthReform UK · May 2026
- Imtiaz AliGreen · May 2024
- Heather Caroline Joy SkibstedGreen · May 2023
- Peter David ReeveReform UK · May 2026
- Chris HarperPeterborough First · May 2024
- Brian RushConservative · May 2023
- John Robert BoltonReform UK · May 2026
- Nicola JenkinsLabour and Co-operative · May 2024
- Richard James StrangwardLabour · May 2023
The other 6 wards
- Vishal VichareConservative · May 2026
- Sarah Areatha HillierPeterborough First · May 2026
- John Raymond FoxPeterborough First · May 2024
- Judy FoxPeterborough First · May 2023
- Andrew BondLiberal Democrat · May 2026
- Ann Louise ShaheedLiberal Democrat · May 2024
- Sandra BondLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Alex BowerbanksGreen · May 2026
- Kirsty KnightIndependent · May 2024
- Nicola DayGreen · May 2023
- Paul WigginLiberal Democrat · May 2026
- Lynne AyresConservative · May 2024
- Wayne FitzgeraldConservative · May 2023
Show as a table
| Ward | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centralall in Peterborough · 14,116 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Khurram IqbalAmjad IqbalMohammed Jamil | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Ravensthorpeall in Peterborough · 12,416 residents1 seat · May 2026 | 1 | Gul Nawaz | May 2026 |
| Eastall in Peterborough · 12,093 residents1 seat · May 2026 | 1 | Sam Hemraj | May 2026 |
| Northall in Peterborough · 11,781 residents1 seat · May 2026 | 1 | Javed Akhtar | May 2026 |
| Parkall in Peterborough · 11,501 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Murtaza Ahmed-MunirAngus Alexander EllisArfan KhanMuhammad Asif | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Paston and Waltonall in Peterborough · 11,089 residents1 seat · May 2026 | 1 | Iva Banyalieva | May 2026 |
| Dogsthorpeall in Peterborough · 11,086 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Ishfaq HussainJason McNallyKaty Jane Cole | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Fletton and Woodstonall in Peterborough · 11,047 residents3 seats · July 2026, May 2026, February 2026 | 3 | Katherine Sharpby-electionEd MurphyAndrew O'Neilby-election | July 2026, May 2026, February 2026 |
| Fletton and Stangroundall in Peterborough · 10,987 residents2 seats · May 2026, May 2024 | 2 | Christian HoggPolly Geraghty | May 2026, May 2024 |
| Orton Longuevilleall in Peterborough · 10,906 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Philip Anthony WhitworthImtiaz AliHeather Caroline Joy Skibsted | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Stanground Southall in Peterborough · 10,661 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Peter David ReeveChris HarperBrian Rush | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Brettonall in Peterborough · 10,478 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | John Robert BoltonNicola JenkinsRichard James Strangward | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
The other 6 wards
| Ward | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hargate and Hempstedall in Peterborough · 9,796 residents1 seat · May 2026 | 1 | Vishal Vichare | May 2026 |
| Werringtonall in Peterborough · 9,630 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Sarah Areatha HillierJohn Raymond FoxJudy Fox | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Gunthorpeall in Peterborough · 9,402 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Andrew BondAnn Louise ShaheedSandra Bond | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Orton Watervillemostly in Peterborough · 8,992 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Alex BowerbanksKirsty KnightNicola Day | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Hampton Valeall in Peterborough · 8,379 residents1 seat · May 2026 | 1 | Paul Wiggin | May 2026 |
| Westall in Peterborough · 5,644 residents2 seats · May 2024, May 2023 | 2 | Lynne AyresWayne Fitzgerald | May 2024, May 2023 |
Councillors can resign, change party or sit as independents between elections; a by-election winner replaces someone not named here. Peterborough City Council’s website lists who sits now.
Results from Democracy Club’s candidates database (CC BY 4.0; elections since May 2021) and ward seats from its EveryElection, matched to ONS wards (May 2026) and county divisions (May 2025).
The Conservatives led each vote to 2024; Reform UK led in 2026
Share of all votes cast for candidates in Peterborough’s wards at each scheduled council election since 2021. A gap is a year with no election here.
Seats won at each election
Show as a table
| Party | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 7.9% | 8.8% | 14.4% | 14.7% | 17.4% |
| Labour | 33.2% | 34% | 33% | 27.4% | 15.7% |
| Liberal Democrat | 11.1% | 15.7% | 11.7% | 10.2% | 10% |
| Conservative | 41.5% | 34.7% | 33.6% | 28.9% | 22.5% |
| Reform UK | 0% | 0.7% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 26% |
| Peterborough First | 0% | 0% | 4.1% | 13.1% | 4.3% |
In 2026, the Conservatives won 6, the Liberal Democrats won 3, Reform UK won 3 and the Greens won 2 of the 17 seats up in Peterborough’s wards.
Results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0). Where a ward elects several councillors at once, each voter has that many votes; all of them count here.
Peterborough council election, May 2026
Results in the wards that make up Peterborough, as declared. Percentages are of votes cast for candidates in each ward; where a ward elects several councillors, each voter has that many votes.
17 wards voted. Peterborough elects a third of its councillors at a time, so a third of the seats were up.
No election is scheduled yet for Peterborough’s wards in Democracy Club’s list. Councils publish a notice of election about five weeks before polling day.
Who can I vote for? ↗3,195 votes for candidates
2,994 votes for candidates
2,662 votes for candidates
Every ward’s result (14 more)
2,334 votes for candidates
2,866 votes for candidates
2,644 votes for candidates
2,231 votes for candidates
2,661 votes for candidates
2,364 votes for candidates
2,545 votes for candidates
2,354 votes for candidates
2,084 votes for candidates
2,286 votes for candidates
3,085 votes for candidates
2,705 votes for candidates
3,127 votes for candidates
1,771 votes for candidates
Candidates and results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), from councils’ declared results; polling dates from Democracy Club’s EveryElection.
Peterborough is split between 2 constituencies
The constituencies’ MP and the 4 July 2024 general election, the whole constituency’s result.
Labour, MP since 4 July 2024
63% of Peterborough’s residents live in this constituency.
Turnout 57% (England 60%).
Majority 118 of 41,872 votes (0.28%): the 10th-narrowest of 543 in England.
Labour, MP since 4 July 2024
37% of Peterborough’s residents live in this constituency.
Turnout 59% (England 60%).
Majority 39 of 44,424 votes (0.09%): the 4th-narrowest of 543 in England.
41,872 votes for candidates · majority 118
Labour, MP since 4 July 2024.
turnout in July 2024: 41,872 votes from 73,378 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 118 of 41,872 votes (0.28%): the 10th-narrowest of 543 in England.
North West Cambridgeshire
44,424 votes for candidates · majority 39
Labour, MP since 4 July 2024.
turnout in July 2024: 44,424 votes from 75,915 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 39 of 44,424 votes (0.09%): the 4th-narrowest of 543 in England.
MPs and results: UK Parliament Members API (Open Parliament Licence v3.0); constituencies from ONS (2024 boundaries). Percentages are of valid votes; turnout is votes cast over the electorate.
Peterborough’s Band D council tax is £2,279 a year
Where a Band D bill goes, what it has cost over the years, and what the councils plan to spend per resident.
Peterborough City Council keeps £1,836.72 of a Band D bill (81%); the rest goes to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, the Cambridgeshire police and crime commissioner and the Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Authority.
Across the whole town the average Band D is £2,288 (parishes differ; weighted by residents).
Band D since 1993
Peterborough’s Band D bill has risen 60% in ten years, from £1,432.35 in 2016–17, against England’s average (56%). It was £534.38 in 1993–94.
Your bill by band
A Band D home in the unparished part of Peterborough, 2026–27, before discounts. The Valuation Office Agency’s band search gives any home’s band.
Cambridgeshire’s councils
Average Band D in each council area, 2026–27, parish precepts included. Bars start at £2,100.
Council budgets per resident, 2026–27
Show as a table, with Cambridgeshire
| Peterborough | Peterborough’s councils | Cambridgeshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult social care | £407 | £417 | £487 |
| Children’s social care | £397 | £224 | £290 |
| Roads and transport | £18 | £28 | £41 |
| Housing (not council homes’ rents) | £29 | £39 | £61 |
| Bins, street cleaning, environment | £84 | £135 | £119 |
| Libraries, leisure, culture | £24 | £27 | £44 |
| Planning and development | £36 | £38 | £26 |
| Public health | £73 | £56 | £78 |
| Running the council | £33 | £40 | £59 |
| Other | £0 | £7 | £19 |
| Total, schools apart | £1,101 | £1,013 | £1,234 |
Net budgeted service spending, MHCLG Revenue Account budget 2026–27, per resident (ONS mid-2025 estimates). Schools are left out: academies are paid for directly by government, so council school budgets depend on how many schools have converted. Cambridgeshire and England: all their councils together. Police, fire and transport authorities aren’t included.
Band D: MHCLG Band D council tax 2026–27 (each authority’s own figure, excluding parish precepts) and Council Tax statistics for town and parish councils 2026–27; since 1993–94, MHCLG’s area averages including parishes.
Having a say in how Peterborough is run
It takes about five minutes online; the deadline is 12 working days before a poll.
gov.uk ↗Type a postcode to write to each of its councillors and its MP.
WriteToThem ↗GOV.UK sends the report to the council that looks after the road.
gov.uk ↗Council and committee meetings are open to the public, with agendas and minutes online.
peterborough.gov.uk ↗Anyone can comment while an application is open for consultation.
peterborough.gov.uk ↗The rules, nomination papers and guidance for council candidates.
Electoral Commission ↗Questions about how Peterborough is run
Does Peterborough have a town council?
Parts of it do: Bretton parish council, Hampton Hargate and Vale parish council, Orton Longueville parish council and Orton Waterville parish council.
Who is the MP for Peterborough?
Peterborough is split between 2 constituencies: Peterborough (Andrew Pakes, Labour) and North West Cambridgeshire (Sam Carling, Labour). Parliament’s Find your MP service matches a postcode to its MP.
How many councillors does Peterborough have?
40 ward councillors represent Peterborough’s 18 wards.
When are the next elections in Peterborough?
No election is scheduled yet in Democracy Club’s list for Peterborough’s wards. The next UK general election must be held by August 2029.
How much is council tax in Peterborough?
Band D council tax in Peterborough is £2,288 for 2026–27. Your bill depends on your home’s band, from A (6/9 of Band D) to H (18/9).
Who controls Peterborough City Council?
No party has a majority. As elected, Conservative 15 · Labour 13 · Liberal Democrat 9 · Peterborough First 9 · Green 7 · Reform UK 5 · Independent 2 of 60 seats; a majority needs 31. The council’s website lists who leads it now.
Who won the 2026 council election in Peterborough?
In Peterborough’s wards on 7 May 2026, Conservative 6 · Liberal Democrat 3 · Reform UK 3 · Green 2 · Labour 2 · Peterborough First 1 of the 17 seats up. Reform UK had the largest share of votes, 26%.
Is Peterborough a marginal seat?
Andrew Pakes (Labour) won it by 118 votes in July 2024, 0.28% of votes cast: the 10th-narrowest result of 543 in England.
Sources: ONS ward, county division, parish, constituency lookups (Census 2021 output areas; Open Government Licence v3.0) · GOV.UK local council finder · Democracy Club candidates (CC BY 4.0) and EveryElection · UK Parliament Members API (Open Parliament Licence v3.0) · MHCLG Band D council tax, parish precepts and Revenue Account budgets 2026–27 (OGL v3.0) · ONS mid-2025 population estimates. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.