Winchester Liberal Democrats Celebrate Local Election Results

This article was originally published in May 2026. Since publication, the political situation at Hampshire County Council has changed, with the Conservatives and Reform agreeing to work together to form an administration. Read our latest update here.

Winchester Liberal Democrats have celebrated a fantastic election result, winning seven County Council seats and 13 of the 15 contested Winchester City Council seats.

Speaking to the Hampshire Chronicle, Cllr Martin Tod, Liberal Democrat Leader of Winchester City Council, said:

"We are absolutely delighted. The team works incredibly hard all year round for local people and it's really good to have that reflected and for people to decide to put their trust in us for the remaining two years of County Council and City Council. It’s something we take very seriously. It is quite an overwhelming result; every county council seat and all the city council seats, bar two, and we're obviously absolutely delighted about that."

On Hampshire County Council, the Liberal Democrats gained Winchester Downlands and Winchester Southern Parishes from the Conservatives, and Meon Valley from the Green Party, winning all seven county divisions covering the Winchester district.

At Winchester City Council, the Liberal Democrats welcomed four new councillors: David Ablitt (Upper Meon Valley), Simone Fleuren (Bishops Waltham), Martin Clay (Denmead) and Andy Adams (Wonston & Micheldever). The gains left the Liberal Democrats holding 36 of the council's 45 seats.

Across Hampshire, the Liberal Democrats gained nine seats overall, increasing their group to 27 councillors and becoming the largest opposition group on Hampshire County Council.

The result reflects years of hard work by Liberal Democrat councillors, campaigners and volunteers working year-round for local residents, standing up for local people on the issues that matter most—from improving bus services and tackling potholes to fighting for better support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, protecting social care, and improving road maintenance.

The Liberal Democrats also thanked the hundreds of volunteers and supporters who helped deliver the campaign, whether by speaking to residents, delivering literature, displaying posters, or helping at polling stations on election day.

With the Conservatives losing overall control after almost three decades, Hampshire entered a new political chapter. While no single party secured a majority, the Liberal Democrats strengthened their position across the county and pledged to continue standing up for residents and holding the new administration to account.

Commenting on the wider result, Martin Tod said the election showed Hampshire residents wanted councillors focused on delivering for their communities. He added that the Liberal Democrats would continue working constructively to secure the best possible outcomes for local people, while building on their record of delivering for communities across Winchester and Hampshire.