# 2024 Preston City Council election

The 2024 Preston City Council election took place on 2 May 2024 to elect members of Preston City Council in Lancashire, England. This was on the same day as other local elections across England, and Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner election.
As is typical for Preston's council elections, sixteen seats of the forty-eight total were contested. Labour have had majority control of the council for most of the council's existence, including from 2011 following a period of no overall control. Labour retained their control with a comfortable majority at this election. However, the Liberal Democrats enjoyed a successful election, nearly doubling their seat count after taking several seats from the Conservatives and becoming the main opposition in Preston City Council. In addition, in a shock result the Liberal Democrats took a seat from Labour in the Lea and Larches ward, unseating then-cabinet member for health and wellbeing (and acting county council Labour opposition group leader) Jennifer Mein by a mere 13 votes following a recount.
The majority of contested seats were fought only by Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats; however in five wards, independent runners or the parities Reform UK and the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition also stood although none of these were successful in gaining a seat. Unlike last year, the Green Party did not stand in any seats.
Following the election the leader of the Preston Conservatives Sue Whittam announced her resignation as leader.

## Election results

2024 Preston City Council election :
| Party | Party | This election | This election | This election | Full council | Full council | Full council | This election | This election | This election |
| Party | Party | Seats | Net | Seats % | Other | Total | Total % | Votes | Votes % | +/− |
| | Labour | 9 | 1 | 56.25 | 21 | 30 | 62.5 | | | |
| | Liberal Democrats | 6 | 5 | 37.50 | 6 | 12 | 25.0 | | | |
| | Conservative | 1 | 4 | 6.25 | 5 | 6 | 12.5 | | | |
| | Independent | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | | | |
| | Reform UK | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | | | |
| | TUSC | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | | | |

## Ward Results

The Statements of Persons Nominated was released by Preston Council on 8 April 2024 following the close of nominations. The results were announced a day after the election. Incumbent councillors that stood for re-election are marked with an asterisk (*).

### Ashton Ward

Ashton :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | James Hull* | 1,012 | 58.8 | −4.0 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rebecca Potter | 369 | 21.5 | +9.8 |
| | Conservative | Daniel Duckworth | 339 | 19.7 | −1.5 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 41 | 2.3 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,762 | 27.20 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Brookfield Ward

Brookfield :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Sara Holmes | 673 | 66.5 | −5.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Edward Craven | 198 | 19.6 | +10.9 |
| | Conservative | Al-Yasa Khan | 141 | 13.9 | −5.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 55 | 5.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,070 | 18.81 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Cadley Ward

Cadley :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Julie van Mierlo | 908 | 48.3 | −7.2 |
| | Labour | Jono Grisdale | 497 | 26.4 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative | Sarah Hart | 319 | 17.0 | ±0.0 |
| | Independent | Paul Balshaw | 156 | 8.3 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 26 | 1.4 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,906 | 29.75 | |
| | Liberal Democrats hold | Liberal Democrats hold | Swing | | |

### City Centre Ward

City Centre :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Salim Desai* | 880 | 58.4 | −8.1 |
| | Conservative | Andy Pratt | 318 | 21.1 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Peter Lawrence | 308 | 20.5 | +11.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 110 | 6.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,616 | 18.95 | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### Deepdale Ward

Deepdale :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Siraz Natha* | 849 | 50.9 | −35.4 |
| | TUSC | Hasan Tunay | 522 | 31.3 | N/A |
| | Liberal Democrats | Jurgen Voges | 176 | 10.6 | +4.0 |
| | Conservative | Nilli Williamson | 120 | 7.2 | +1.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 195 | 10.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,863 | 28.13 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Fishwick and Frenchwood Ward

Fishwick and Frenchwood :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Martyn Rawlinson* | 924 | 61.1 | −10.7 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Alana Mullen | 387 | 25.6 | +19.9 |
| | Conservative | Ishaq Vaez | 201 | 13.3 | −9.2 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 151 | 9.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,663 | 27.54 | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### Garrison Ward

Garrison :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Peter Kelly* | 967 | 53.8 | −7.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Claire Craven | 465 | 25.9 | +10.8 |
| | Conservative | Lakwinder Singh | 365 | 20.3 | −2.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 190 | 9.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,986 | 30.02 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Greyfriars Ward

Greyfriars :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Michael Peak | 1,029 | 47.4 | −1.0 |
| | Conservative | Dave Leme Da Silva | 624 | 28.7 | +2.4 |
| | Labour | Avery Greatorex | 519 | 23.9 | −1.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 85 | 3.8 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,257 | 35.73 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Ingol and Cottam Ward

Ingol and Cottam :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Ben Ward | 861 | 43.7 | −5.0 |
| | Conservative | Trevor Hart* | 550 | 27.9 | −3.1 |
| | Labour | Adam Malik | 354 | 18.0 | −1.3 |
| | Reform UK | David Preston | 204 | 10.4 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 10 | 0.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,979 | 26.30 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Lea and Larches Ward

Lea and Larches :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Mark Jewell | 578 | 36.2 | +16.1 |
| | Labour | Jenny Mein* | 565 | 35.4 | −28.8 |
| | Independent | Ann Cowell | 305 | 19.1 | N/A |
| | Conservative | Tracy Slater | 147 | 9.2 | −5.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 8 | 0.5 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,603 | 25.03 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Liberal Democrats gain from Labour | Swing | | |

### Plungington Ward

Plungington :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour | Nweeda Khan* | 838 | 62.1 | −14.0 |
| | Conservative | Martin McKeever | 203 | 15.0 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Cristina Mylroie | 172 | 12.7 | +4.4 |
| | TUSC | Joel Patton | 137 | 10.1 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 41 | 2.9 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,391 | 17.28 | |
| | Labour hold | Labour hold | Swing | | |

### Preston Rural East Ward

Preston Rural East :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Conservative | Mark Bell* | 1,056 | 48.5 | −2.2 |
| | Labour | Victoria Blundell | 698 | 32.0 | +2.8 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Joanne Joyner | 425 | 19.5 | +1.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 36 | 1.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,215 | 28.01 | |
| | Conservative hold | Conservative hold | Swing | | |

### Preston Rural North Ward

Preston Rural North :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | Daniel Guise | 869 | 47.9 | +9.7 |
| | Conservative | Keith Middlebrough* | 640 | 35.3 | −8.3 |
| | Labour | Taylor Donoughue-Smith | 304 | 16.8 | −2.8 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 22 | 1.2 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,835 | 27.48 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### Ribbleton Ward

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Anna Hindle* | 595 | 65.2 | −7.7 |
| | Conservative | Mary Kennedy | 163 | 17.9 | +0.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Kate Bosman | 155 | 17.0 | +7.7 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 28 | 3.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 941 | 16.45 | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |

### Sharoe Green Ward

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal Democrats | George Kulbacki | 1,050 | 43.6 | +8.9 |
| | Labour | Mark Routledge | 833 | 34.6 | −4.8 |
| | Conservative | David Walker* | 523 | 21.7 | −3.8 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 76 | 3.1 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 217 | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,482 | 39.32 | |
| | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Liberal Democrats gain from Conservative | Swing | | |

### St. Matthews Ward

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labour Co-op | Suleman Sarwar* | 714 | 64.3 | −16.1 |
| | Liberal Democrats | Rene van Mierlo | 244 | 22.0 | +14.1 |
| | Conservative | Sohaib Ashraf | 152 | 13.7 | +2.6 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 146 | 11.6 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,256 | 20.24 | |
| | Labour Co-op hold | Labour Co-op hold | Swing | | |