Photo: G-Man at English Wikipedia · Public domainNo party holds a majority on Rugby Borough Council
Rugby is run by Rugby Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council. No party holds a majority on either Rugby Borough Council or Warwickshire County Council. Its MP is John Slinger (Labour), member for Rugby.
£2,455
Band D, a year, the middle band every council sets its tax from.
Where it goes →How Rugby’s politics has changed since 2021
No majority on Rugby Borough Council
No party holds a majority on Rugby Borough Council. Labour, the largest group, holds 15 of its 46 seats as elected, 9 short of the 24 needed. The Conservatives hold 14, the Liberal Democrats 13 and Reform UK 3. Who’s in charge ↓
Warwickshire changed hands in 2025
Warwickshire County Council, which runs schools, social care and roads, went from a Conservative majority (42 of 57 seats in 2021) to no overall control at the May 2025 election: Reform UK won 23 of 57 seats. Warwickshire ↓
The 2026 vote
Across Rugby’s wards, Reform UK took 27.5%, the Liberal Democrats took 22.6% and the Conservatives took 21% of votes in May 2026. In 2024, Reform UK had 4.6%. How Rugby has voted ↓
Council tax
A Band D bill in Rugby is £2,453 for 2026–27; Rugby Borough Council keeps 9% of it. The council area’s Band D has risen 52% 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 on either council
Seats by party as elected. A party needs 24 of Rugby’s 46 or 29 of Warwickshire’s 57 seats to run the council alone.
- Labour15
- Conservative14
- Liberal Democrat13
- Reform UK3
Latest election: May 2026.
- Reform UK23+23
- Liberal Democrat14+9
- Conservative9−33
- Green7+4
- Labour3−3
- Whitnash Residents Association1no change
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, and a parish tier
Rugby has two tiers of council: the county runs the big services, the district the local ones.
The parish council for the part of Rugby inside Clifton upon Dunsmore parish.
2% of Rugby’s residents · Band D precept £37
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.
94% of Rugby’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 Rugby, from the most recent elections.
- 1Town or parishParish tierClifton upon Dunsmore parish council
- 2Rugby Borough Council10 wards · 24 councillorsLiberal Democrat 11 · Labour 6 · Conservative 4 · Reform UK 3 · all 24
- 3Warwickshire County Council7 divisions · 7 councillorsDan GloverYousef DahmashAdrian David WarwickJerry RoodhouseSenthil KaradiarStephen PimmDean Richards
- 4Police and crime commissionerWarwickshire Police · elected May 2024Philip Seccombe
- 5House of CommonsRugby
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.
24 councillors for 10 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.
- Richard HarringtonLabour · May 2026
- Maggie O'RourkeLabour · May 2024
- Rob BarnettLabour · May 2023
- Kyle StewartReform UK · May 2026
- Sam EdwardsLiberal Democrat · May 2026
- Tricia TrimbleLiberal Democrat · May 2024
- Neil James SandisonLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Angela Mary ThompsonLabour and Co-operative · May 2026
- Jamie PullinReform UK · May 2026
- Devenne Taylor KedwardConservative · May 2026
- Adam Michael DalyConservative · May 2024
- Luke James RussellConservative · May 2023
- Corissa DavisLiberal Democrat · May 2026
- Carie-Anne DumbletonLiberal Democrat · May 2024
- Isabelle Anne McKenzieLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Noreen NewLiberal Democrat · May 2026
- Mark ThomasLiberal Democrat · May 2024
- Jerry RoodhouseLiberal Democrat · May 2023
- Stephen PimmLiberal Democrat · May 2026
- Nicky BainbridgeLiberal Democrat · May 2026
- Michael Phillip HowlingConservative · May 2024
- Andrew GlowackiReform UK · May 2026
- Amanda HendersonLabour · May 2024
- Verity Marie Louise RobinsonLabour · May 2023
Show as a table, with Warwickshire County Council’s 7 divisions (7 councillors)
| Ward | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bennall in Rugby · 9,347 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Richard HarringtonMaggie O'RourkeRob Barnett | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Newbold and Brownsoverall in Rugby · 8,933 residents1 seat · May 2026 | 1 | Kyle Stewart | May 2026 |
| Eastlandsall in Rugby · 8,424 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Sam EdwardsTricia TrimbleNeil James Sandison | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| New Biltonall in Rugby · 8,170 residents1 seat · May 2026 | 1 | Angela Mary Thompson | May 2026 |
| Coton and Boughtonall in Rugby · 8,103 residents1 seat · May 2026 | 1 | Jamie Pullin | May 2026 |
| Hillmortonall in Rugby · 7,750 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Devenne Taylor KedwardAdam Michael DalyLuke James Russell | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Rokeby and Oversladeall in Rugby · 7,704 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Corissa DavisCarie-Anne DumbletonIsabelle Anne McKenzie | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Paddoxall in Rugby · 7,359 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Noreen NewMark ThomasJerry Roodhouse | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
| Biltonall in Rugby · 6,548 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024 | 3 | Stephen PimmNicky BainbridgeMichael Phillip Howling | May 2026, May 2024 |
| Admirals and Cawston47% in Rugby · 4,655 residents3 seats · May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 | 3 | Andrew GlowackiAmanda HendersonVerity Marie Louise Robinson | May 2026, May 2024, May 2023 |
Warwickshire County Council: county divisions
| Division | Seats | Elected | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Bilton & Overslade EDall in Rugby · 24,298 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Dan Glover | May 2025 |
| Hillmorton EDall in Rugby · 15,109 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Yousef Dahmash | May 2025 |
| Fosse ED47% in Rugby · 10,070 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Adrian David Warwick | May 2025 |
| Eastlands EDall in Rugby · 9,347 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Jerry Roodhouse | May 2025 |
| Brownsover & Coton Park EDall in Rugby · 8,103 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Senthil Karadiar | May 2025 |
| Bilton & Hillside EDall in Rugby · 6,548 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Stephen Pimm | May 2025 |
| Admirals & Cawston ED47% in Rugby · 4,655 residents1 seat · May 2025 | 1 | Dean Richards | May 2025 |
Councillors can resign, change party or sit as independents between elections; a by-election winner replaces someone not named here. Rugby Borough 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).
Who led each council vote, 2021–2026
Share of all votes cast for candidates in Rugby’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 | 6.5% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 6.3% | 11.7% |
| Labour | 29.4% | 36.8% | 37.4% | 39.4% | 17.1% |
| Liberal Democrat | 21.2% | 25.8% | 25.7% | 23% | 22.6% |
| Conservative | 42.7% | 30.5% | 30.4% | 26.7% | 21% |
| Reform UK | 0% | 0% | 0.3% | 4.6% | 27.5% |
In 2026, the Liberal Democrats won 5, Reform UK won 3, Labour won 2 and the Conservatives won 1 of the 11 seats up in Rugby’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.
Rugby council election, May 2026
Results in the wards that make up Rugby, as declared. Percentages are of votes cast for candidates in each ward; where a ward elects several councillors, each voter has that many votes.
10 wards voted. Not every seat in the town’s wards was up this time.
No election is scheduled yet for Rugby’s wards in Democracy Club’s list. Councils publish a notice of election about five weeks before polling day.
Who can I vote for? ↗1,955 votes for candidates
2,127 votes for candidates
2,368 votes for candidates
Every ward’s result (7 more)
1,640 votes for candidates
2,399 votes for candidates
2,944 votes for candidates
2,409 votes for candidates
2,569 votes for candidates
5,030 votes for candidates · 2 seats, so 2 votes each
2,853 votes for candidates
Candidates and results: Democracy Club (CC BY 4.0), from councils’ declared results; polling dates from Democracy Club’s EveryElection.
Rugby is in Rugby constituency
The constituency’s MP and the 4 July 2024 general election, the whole constituency’s result (it reaches beyond Rugby).
49,004 votes for candidates · majority 4,428
Labour, MP since 4 July 2024.
turnout in July 2024: 49,004 votes from 74,901 registered voters. England: 60%.
Majority 4,428 of 49,004 votes (9%): the 166th-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.
Rugby’s Band D council tax is £2,453 a year
Where a Band D bill goes, what it has cost over the years, and what the councils plan to spend per resident.
Rugby Borough Council keeps £230.32 of a Band D bill (9%); the rest goes to Warwickshire County Council and the Warwickshire police and crime commissioner.
Across the whole town the average Band D is £2,455 (parishes differ; weighted by residents).
Band D since 1993
Rugby’s Band D bill has risen 52% in ten years, from £1,635.01 in 2016–17, against England’s average (56%). It was £574.88 in 1993–94.
Your bill by band
A Band D home in the unparished part of Rugby, 2026–27, before discounts. The Valuation Office Agency’s band search gives any home’s band.
Warwickshire’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 Warwickshire
| Rugby + Warwickshire | Rugby’s councils | Warwickshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult social care | £434 | £434 | £487 |
| Children’s social care | £257 | £257 | £290 |
| Roads and transport | £60 | £56 | £41 |
| Housing (not council homes’ rents) | £28 | £22 | £61 |
| Bins, street cleaning, environment | £95 | £99 | £119 |
| Libraries, leisure, culture | £44 | £35 | £44 |
| Planning and development | £38 | £43 | £26 |
| Public health | £47 | £47 | £78 |
| Running the council | £67 | £69 | £59 |
| Other | £20 | £19 | £19 |
| Total, schools apart | £1,140 | £1,132 | £1,234 |
Net budgeted service spending, MHCLG Revenue Account budget 2026–27, per resident (ONS mid-2025 estimates). Both tiers added: Rugby per its residents plus Warwickshire 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. Warwickshire 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 Rugby 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.
rugby.gov.uk ↗Anyone can comment while an application is open for consultation.
rugby.gov.uk ↗The rules, nomination papers and guidance for council candidates.
Electoral Commission ↗Questions about how Rugby is run
Which council runs Rugby?
The county council runs schools, social care and roads; the district runs bins, planning and housing.
Does Rugby have a town council?
Parts of it do: Clifton upon Dunsmore parish council.
Who is the MP for Rugby?
John Slinger (Labour) is the MP for Rugby, which covers Rugby.
How many councillors does Rugby have?
24 ward councillors represent Rugby’s 10 wards, and 7 county councillors its county divisions.
When are the next elections in Rugby?
No election is scheduled yet in Democracy Club’s list for Rugby’s wards. The next UK general election must be held by August 2029.
How much is council tax in Rugby?
Band D council tax in Rugby is £2,455 for 2026–27. Your bill depends on your home’s band, from A (6/9 of Band D) to H (18/9).
Who controls Rugby Borough Council?
No party has a majority. As elected, Labour 15 · Conservative 14 · Liberal Democrat 13 · Reform UK 3 of 46 seats; a majority needs 24. The council’s website lists who leads it now.
Who controls Warwickshire County Council?
As elected, Reform UK 23 · Liberal Democrat 14 · Conservative 9 · Green 7 · Labour 3 · Whitnash Residents Association 1 of 57 seats; a majority needs 29.
Who won the 2026 council election in Rugby?
In Rugby’s wards on 7 May 2026, Liberal Democrat 5 · Reform UK 3 · Labour 2 · Conservative 1 of the 11 seats up. Reform UK had the largest share of votes, 27.5%.
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.