Photo: Stephen Craven · CC BY-SA 2.0No party holds a majority on Lancaster City Council
Lancaster is run by Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council. No party holds a majority on Lancaster City Council. Reform UK has a majority on Lancashire County Council. Its MP is Cat Smith (Labour), member for Lancaster and Wyre.
£2,461
Band D, a year, the middle band every council sets its tax from.
Where it goes →How Lancaster’s politics has changed since 2021
No majority on Lancaster City Council
Labour, the largest group, holds 23 of its 61 seats as elected, 8 short of the 31 needed. The Greens hold 22, the Liberal Democrats 7, the Conservatives 5, Morecambe Bay Independents 3 and independents 1. Who’s in charge ↓
Lancashire changed hands in 2025
Lancashire County Council, which runs schools, social care and roads, went from a Conservative majority (47 of 84 seats in 2021) to a Reform UK majority at the May 2025 election: Reform UK won 53 of 84 seats. Lancashire ↓
Council tax
A Band D bill in Lancaster is £2,461 for 2026–27; Lancaster City Council keeps 11% of it. The council area’s Band D has risen 54% 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.
Who holds the seats on Lancaster’s councils
Seats by party as elected. A party needs 31 of Lancaster’s 61 or 43 of Lancashire’s 84 seats to run the council alone.
- Labour23
- Green22
- Liberal Democrat7
- Conservative5
- Morecambe Bay Independents3
- Independent1
Latest election: May 2023.
- Reform UK53+53
- Conservative8−39
- Independent7+7
- Labour5−28
- Liberal Democrat5+3
- Green4+2
- Our West Lancashire2+2
Change against the council before the 1 May 2025 election.
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.
Two tiers of council, no parish tier
Lancaster has two tiers of council: the county runs the big services, the district the local ones.
Bins and recycling, planning, housing, environmental health, leisure, and collecting council tax.
Website ↗Schools, social care, roads and transport, libraries and waste disposal.
Website ↗Transport, skills and regeneration across several council areas.
Who to ask
From GOV.UK’s “Understand how your council works”: in two-tier areas the district or borough runs local services and the county the big ones.
All of Lancaster is unparished: there is no parish or town council, so the council runs local matters itself and no parish precept is added to the bill.
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 council to Westminster
Every elected tier that speaks for Lancaster, from the most recent elections.
- 1Lancaster City Council9 wards · 23 councillorsGreen 19 · Labour 8 · all 27
- 2Lancashire County Council4 divisions · 4 councillorsHamish MillsPaul Byron StubbinsMartyn SuttonGina Dowding
- 3Police and crime commissionerLancashire Constabulary · elected May 2024Clive Grunshaw
- 4House of CommonsLancaster and Wyre
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.
23 councillors for 9 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.
- Caroline JacksonGreen · May 2023
- Jack LenoxGreen · May 2023
- Sam RichesGreen · May 2023
- Robert Michael RedfernLabour · May 2023
- Anna Sandra ThornberryLabour · May 2023
- Geoffrey Martin GawithLabour · May 2023
- Gina DowdingGreen · May 2023
- Mandy BannonGreen · May 2023
- Nick WilkinsonGreen · May 2023
- Ruth ColbridgeLabour · May 2023
- Hilda Jean ParrLabour · May 2023
- Phillip BlackLabour · May 2023
- Will FarleyGreen · May 2026 · by-election
- Isabella Metcalf-RienerGreen · March 2024 · by-election
- Dave BrookesGreen · May 2023
- Shelagh McGregorGreen · May 2023
- Paul Byron StubbinsGreen · May 2023
- Hamish MillsGreen · May 2023
- Sarah PunshonGreen · May 2023
- Abi MillsGreen · May 2023
- Tim Hamilton-CoxGreen · May 2023
- Andrew Robert OtwayGreen · October 2024 · by-election
- Sophie Louise MaddocksLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
- Jason WoodLabour and Co-operative · May 2023
- Wilson ColleyGreen · May 2025 · by-election
- Suhir AbuhajarGreen · May 2023
- Grace RussellGreen · May 2023
Show as a table, with Lancashire County Council’s 4 divisions (4 councillors)
| Ward | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulkall in Lancaster · 8,376 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Caroline JacksonJack LenoxSam Riches | May 2023 |
| Skertonall in Lancaster · 6,940 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Robert Michael RedfernAnna Sandra ThornberryGeoffrey Martin Gawith | May 2023 |
| Marshall in Lancaster · 6,649 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Gina DowdingMandy BannonNick Wilkinson | May 2023 |
| Scale Hallmostly in Lancaster · 6,525 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Ruth ColbridgeHilda Jean ParrPhillip Black | May 2023 |
| Castleall in Lancaster · 6,260 residents3 seats · May 2026, March 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Will Farleyby-electionIsabella Metcalf-Rienerby-electionDave BrookesShelagh McGregorPaul Byron Stubbins | May 2026, March 2024, May 2023 |
| Bowerhamall in Lancaster · 4,927 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Hamish MillsSarah Punshon | May 2023 |
| Scotforth Westmostly in Lancaster · 4,758 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Abi MillsTim Hamilton-Cox | May 2023 |
| Scotforth Eastall in Lancaster · 4,254 residents2 seats · October 2024, May 2023 | 2 | Andrew Robert Otwayby-electionSophie Louise MaddocksJason Wood | October 2024, May 2023 |
| John O'Gauntall in Lancaster · 3,957 residents2 seats · May 2025, May 2023 | 2 | Wilson Colleyby-electionSuhir AbuhajarGrace Russell | May 2025, May 2023 |
Lancashire County Council: county divisions
| Division | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster South East EDmostly in Lancaster · 17,896 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Hamish Mills | May 2025 |
| Lancaster East EDall in Lancaster · 14,636 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Paul Byron Stubbins | May 2025 |
| Skerton EDall in Lancaster · 13,465 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Martyn Sutton | May 2025 |
| Lancaster Central EDall in Lancaster · 6,649 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Gina Dowding | May 2025 |
Councillors can resign, change party or sit as independents between elections; a by-election winner replaces someone not named here. Lancaster 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).
Lancaster council election, May 2023
Results in the wards that make up Lancaster, as declared. Percentages are of votes cast for candidates in each ward; where a ward elects several councillors, each voter has that many votes.
9 wards voted. Every seat in the town’s wards was up.
No election is scheduled yet for Lancaster’s wards in Democracy Club’s list. Councils publish a notice of election about five weeks before polling day.
Who can I vote for? ↗5,228 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
3,276 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
5,150 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
Every ward’s result (6 more)
2,814 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
3,516 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
2,858 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
3,308 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
2,709 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
2,037 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
Candidates and results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), from councils’ declared results; polling dates from Democracy Club’s EveryElection.
Lancaster is in Lancaster and Wyre constituency
The constituency’s MP and the 4 July 2024 general election, the whole constituency’s result (it reaches beyond Lancaster).
43,008 votes for candidates · majority 9,253
Labour, MP since 7 May 2015.
turnout in July 2024: 43,008 votes from 74,760 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 9,253 of 43,008 votes (21.5%): wider than in 70% of England’s 543 constituencies.
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.
Lancaster’s Band D council tax is £2,461 a year
Where a Band D bill goes, what it has cost over the years, and what the councils plan to spend per resident.
Lancaster City Council keeps £272.20 of a Band D bill (11%); the rest goes to Lancashire County Council, the Lancashire police and crime commissioner and the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Authority.
Band D since 1993
Lancaster’s Band D bill has risen 54% in ten years, from £1,625.29 in 2016–17, against England’s average (56%). It was £615.38 in 1993–94.
Your bill by band
A Band D home in the unparished part of Lancaster, 2026–27, before discounts. The Valuation Office Agency’s band search gives any home’s band.
Lancashire’s councils
Average Band D in each council area, 2026–27, parish precepts included; the 11 nearest of 14. Bars start at £2,200.
Council budgets per resident, 2026–27
Show as a table, with Lancashire
| Lancaster + Lancashire | Lancaster’s councils | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult social care | £522 | £533 | £487 |
| Children’s social care | £249 | £295 | £290 |
| Roads and transport | £30 | £44 | £41 |
| Housing (not council homes’ rents) | £34 | £24 | £61 |
| Bins, street cleaning, environment | £142 | £135 | £119 |
| Libraries, leisure, culture | £58 | £56 | £44 |
| Planning and development | £37 | £16 | £26 |
| Public health | £78 | £92 | £78 |
| Running the council | £74 | £73 | £59 |
| Other | £0 | £13 | £19 |
| Total, schools apart | £1,223 | £1,281 | £1,234 |
Net budgeted service spending, MHCLG Revenue Account budget 2026–27, per resident (ONS mid-2025 estimates). Both tiers added: Lancaster per its residents plus Lancashire per the county’s. Schools are left out: academies are paid for directly by government, so council school budgets depend on how many schools have converted. Lancashire 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 Lancaster 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.
lancaster.gov.uk ↗Anyone can comment while an application is open for consultation.
lancaster.gov.uk ↗The rules, nomination papers and guidance for council candidates.
Electoral Commission ↗Questions about how Lancaster is run
Which council runs Lancaster?
The county council runs schools, social care and roads; the district runs bins, planning and housing.
Does Lancaster have a town council?
No. Lancaster is unparished, so there is no town or parish council and no parish precept.
Who is the MP for Lancaster?
Cat Smith (Labour) is the MP for Lancaster and Wyre, which covers Lancaster.
How many councillors does Lancaster have?
23 ward councillors represent Lancaster’s 9 wards, and 4 county councillors its county divisions.
When are the next elections in Lancaster?
No election is scheduled yet in Democracy Club’s list for Lancaster’s wards. The next UK general election must be held by August 2029.
How much is council tax in Lancaster?
Band D council tax in Lancaster is £2,461 for 2026–27. Your bill depends on your home’s band, from A (6/9 of Band D) to H (18/9).
Who controls Lancaster City Council?
No party has a majority. As elected, Labour 23 · Green 22 · Liberal Democrat 7 · Conservative 5 · Morecambe Bay Independents 3 · Independent 1 of 61 seats; a majority needs 31. The council’s website lists who leads it now.
Who controls Lancashire County Council?
Reform UK has a majority: 53 of 84 seats as elected.
Who won the 2023 council election in Lancaster?
In Lancaster’s wards on 4 May 2023, Green 15 · Labour 8 of the 23 seats up. The Greens had the largest share of votes, 50.6%.
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.