Liberal Democrats Tighten Grip on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council After Local Elections

The Liberal Democrats have strengthened their control of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council following the local elections held on Thursday 7 May.

Fifteen council seats across the borough were contested this year, with the Liberal Democrats successfully defending all of their existing seats while also gaining three additional councillors. The party now holds 25 of the council’s 39 seats.

The elections saw voting take place in 13 wards across the borough, with no election held in High Brooms this year. Overall turnout reached 45.3%.

Among the biggest stories of the night were Liberal Democrat gains in Sherwood and Rusthall & Speldhurst, including one seat previously held by Labour Party.

Despite strong national momentum elsewhere in the country, Reform UK failed to win any seats in Tunbridge Wells, although the party finished second in several wards and secured notable vote totals in rural areas.

The Conservative Party retained two seats, while Tunbridge Wells Alliance and Independents for Tunbridge Wells each held onto one seat.

Current council leader Ben Chapelard said voters had rewarded the Liberal Democrats for their work managing the authority, while opposition parties acknowledged the Lib Dem campaign machine had been highly visible across the borough during the election period.

This election may also mark the beginning of the end for the current structure of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council itself. National government plans to reorganise local government are expected to replace existing borough and district councils with larger unitary authorities across Kent over the next few years.

If the current timetable goes ahead, new unitary authority elections could take place in 2027, ahead of the wider restructuring planned for 2028.

Final council balance:

• Liberal Democrats: 25
• Conservatives: 7
• Labour: 3
• Tunbridge Wells Alliance: 3
• Independents for Tunbridge Wells: 1