Photo: Richard Humphrey · CC BY-SA 2.0No party holds a majority on Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk
King's Lynn is run by Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk and Norfolk County Council. No party holds a majority on Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk. The Conservatives have a majority on Norfolk County Council. Its MP is James Wild (Conservative), member for North West Norfolk.
£2,372
Band D, a year, the middle band every council sets its tax from.
Where it goes →How King's Lynn’s politics has changed since 2021
No majority on Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk
The Conservatives, the largest group, hold 19 of its 54 seats as elected, 9 short of the 28 needed. Independents hold 16, Labour 9, Reform UK 5, the Liberal Democrats 3 and the Greens 2. Who’s in charge ↓
Norfolk in 2021
Norfolk County Council, which runs schools, social care and roads, has a Conservative majority at the May 2021 election: the Conservatives won 53 of 84 seats. Norfolk ↓
Council tax
A Band D bill in King's Lynn is £2,362 for 2026–27; Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk keeps 7% of it. The council area’s Band D has risen 55% 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 King's Lynn’s councils
Seats by party as elected. A party needs 28 of King's Lynn and West Norfolk’s 54 or 43 of Norfolk’s 84 seats to run the council alone.
- Conservative19
- Independent16
- Labour9
- Reform UK5
- Liberal Democrat3
- Green2
Latest election: May 2023.
- Conservative53
- Labour11
- Liberal Democrat10
- Green4
- Independent4
- Reform UK2
Latest election: May 2021.
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, and a parish tier
King's Lynn has two tiers of council: the county runs the big services, the district the local ones.
The parish council for the part of King's Lynn inside South Wootton parish.
8% of King's Lynn’s residents · Band D precept £69
The parish council for the part of King's Lynn inside North Wootton parish.
Who runs King's Lynn: same source as Who runs King's Lynn, above.
Bins and recycling, planning, housing, environmental health, leisure, and collecting council tax.
Website ↗Schools, social care, roads and transport, libraries and waste disposal.
Website ↗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.
87% of King's Lynn’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 King's Lynn, from the most recent elections.
- 1Town or parish2 parish councilsSouth Wootton parish councilNorth Wootton parish council
- 2Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk9 wards · 17 councillorsLabour 10 · Independent 4 · Liberal Democrat 2 · Reform UK 2 · Conservative 1 · all 19
- 3Norfolk County Council4 divisions · 4 councillorsRob ColwellLesley BambridgeSimon John RingAlexandra Kemp
- 4Police and crime commissionerNorfolk Constabulary · elected July 2026Colin Sutton
- 5House of CommonsNorth West Norfolk
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.
17 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.
- Rob ColwellLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- David SayersLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Sandra Elizabeth CollopLabour · May 2023
- Austen MooreReform UK · June 2025 · by-election
- Ben JonesLabour · May 2023
- Micaela Rachel BartrumLabour · May 2023
- Jacqueline FryReform UK · June 2025 · by-election
- Margaret Rose WilkinsonLabour · May 2023
- Steve Richard EverettLabour · May 2023
- Paul BlandIndependent · May 2023
- Simon John RingIndependent · May 2023
- Richard CoatesConservative · May 2023
- Francis BoneLabour · May 2023
- Deborah Lynne HeneghanLabour · May 2023
- Alexandra KempIndependent · May 2023
- Charles Edward JoyceLabour · May 2023
- Alex WareLabour · May 2023
- Jo RustIndependent · May 2023
- Joshua Adam LoweLabour · May 2023
Show as a table, with Norfolk County Council’s 4 divisions (4 councillors)
| Ward | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaywood North Bankall in King's Lynn · 8,677 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Rob ColwellDavid SayersSandra Elizabeth Collop | May 2023 |
| North Lynnall in King's Lynn · 6,877 residents2 seats · June 2025, May 2023 | 2 | Austen Mooreby-electionBen JonesMicaela Rachel Bartrum | June 2025, May 2023 |
| Fairsteadmostly in King's Lynn · 6,374 residents2 seats · June 2025, May 2023 | 2 | Jacqueline Fryby-electionMargaret Rose WilkinsonSteve Richard Everett | June 2025, May 2023 |
| The Woottonsmostly in King's Lynn · 6,338 residents3 seats · May 2023 | 3 | Paul BlandSimon John RingRichard Coates | May 2023 |
| St. Margaret's with St. Nicholasall in King's Lynn · 5,586 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Francis BoneDeborah Lynne Heneghan | May 2023 |
| South & West Lynnall in King's Lynn · 5,118 residents2 seats · May 2023 | 2 | Alexandra KempCharles Edward Joyce | May 2023 |
| Gaywood Clockall in King's Lynn · 3,335 residents1 seat · May 2023 | 1 | Alex Ware | May 2023 |
| Springwoodall in King's Lynn · 2,871 residents1 seat · May 2023 | 1 | Jo Rust | May 2023 |
| Gaywood Chaseall in King's Lynn · 2,428 residents1 seat · May 2023 | 1 | Joshua Adam Lowe | May 2023 |
Norfolk County Council: county divisions
| Division | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaywood South EDall in King's Lynn · 21,257 residents1 seat · July 2021 | 1 | Rob Colwellby-election | July 2021 |
| King's Lynn North and Central EDall in King's Lynn · 14,891 residents1 seat · May 2021 | 1 | Lesley Bambridge | May 2021 |
| Freebridge Lynn EDmostly in King's Lynn · 6,338 residents1 seat · September 2024 | 1 | Simon John Ringby-election | September 2024 |
| Clenchwarton and King's Lynn South EDmostly in King's Lynn · 5,118 residents1 seat · May 2021 | 1 | Alexandra Kemp | May 2021 |
Councillors can resign, change party or sit as independents between elections; a by-election winner replaces someone not named here. Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk’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).
King's Lynn and West Norfolk council election, May 2023
Results in the wards that make up King's Lynn, 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 King's Lynn’s wards in Democracy Club’s list. Councils publish a notice of election about five weeks before polling day.
Who can I vote for? ↗4,076 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
839 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
1,135 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
Every ward’s result (6 more)
5,054 votes for candidates · 3 seats, so 3 votes each
1,680 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
1,244 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
381 votes for candidates
681 votes for candidates
481 votes for candidates
Candidates and results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), from councils’ declared results; polling dates from Democracy Club’s EveryElection.
King's Lynn is in North West Norfolk constituency
The constituency’s MP and the 4 July 2024 general election, the whole constituency’s result (it reaches beyond King's Lynn).
44,566 votes for candidates · majority 4,954
Conservative, MP since 12 December 2019.
turnout in July 2024: 44,566 votes from 74,415 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 4,954 of 44,566 votes (11.1%): the 212th-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.
King's Lynn’s Band D council tax is £2,362 a year
Where a Band D bill goes, what it has cost over the years, and what the councils plan to spend per resident.
Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk keeps £174.19 of a Band D bill (7%); the rest goes to Norfolk County Council and the Norfolk police and crime commissioner.
Across the whole town the average Band D is £2,372 (parishes differ; weighted by residents).
Band D since 1993
King's Lynn and West Norfolk’s Band D bill has risen 55% in ten years, from £1,570.07 in 2016–17, against England’s average (56%). It was £507.38 in 1993–94.
Your bill by band
A Band D home in the unparished part of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, 2026–27, before discounts. The Valuation Office Agency’s band search gives any home’s band.
Norfolk’s councils
Average Band D in each council area, 2026–27, parish precepts included. Bars start at £2,300.
Council budgets per resident, 2026–27
Show as a table, with Norfolk
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk + Norfolk | King's Lynn’s councils | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult social care | £504 | £505 | £487 |
| Children’s social care | £259 | £259 | £290 |
| Roads and transport | £31 | £40 | £41 |
| Housing (not council homes’ rents) | £19 | £37 | £61 |
| Bins, street cleaning, environment | £127 | £125 | £119 |
| Libraries, leisure, culture | £44 | £43 | £44 |
| Planning and development | £36 | £41 | £26 |
| Public health | £60 | £60 | £78 |
| Running the council | £111 | £69 | £59 |
| Other | £35 | £39 | £19 |
| Total, schools apart | £1,277 | £1,268 | £1,234 |
Net budgeted service spending, MHCLG Revenue Account budget 2026–27, per resident (ONS mid-2025 estimates). Both tiers added: King's Lynn and West Norfolk per its residents plus Norfolk 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. Norfolk 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 King's Lynn 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.
west-norfolk.gov.uk ↗Anyone can comment while an application is open for consultation.
west-norfolk.gov.uk ↗The rules, nomination papers and guidance for council candidates.
Electoral Commission ↗Questions about how King's Lynn is run
Which council runs King's Lynn?
The county council runs schools, social care and roads; the district runs bins, planning and housing.
Does King's Lynn have a town council?
Parts of it do: South Wootton parish council and North Wootton parish council.
Who is the MP for King's Lynn?
James Wild (Conservative) is the MP for North West Norfolk, which covers King's Lynn.
How many councillors does King's Lynn have?
17 ward councillors represent King's Lynn’s 9 wards, and 4 county councillors its county divisions.
When are the next elections in King's Lynn?
No election is scheduled yet in Democracy Club’s list for King's Lynn’s wards. The next UK general election must be held by August 2029.
How much is council tax in King's Lynn?
Band D council tax in King's Lynn is £2,372 for 2026–27. Your bill depends on your home’s band, from A (6/9 of Band D) to H (18/9).
Who controls Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk?
No party has a majority. As elected, Conservative 19 · Independent 16 · Labour 9 · Reform UK 5 · Liberal Democrat 3 · Green 2 of 54 seats; a majority needs 28. The council’s website lists who leads it now.
Who controls Norfolk County Council?
The Conservatives have a majority: 53 of 84 seats as elected.
Who won the 2023 council election in King's Lynn?
In King's Lynn’s wards on 4 May 2023, Labour 10 · Independent 4 · Liberal Democrat 2 · Conservative 1 of the 17 seats up. Labour had the largest share of votes, 33.3%.
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.