Every seat on the council will be up for grabs for the first time in two decades
The borough of Sefton has an “all-out” election taking place this year, with all seats being contested for the first time in more than two decades. This could result in major changes to the make-up of the council, which is currently led by a Labour team of 51 councillors.
The remaining 15 seats are occupied by the Liberal Democrats – with nine councillors – the Conservatives with four, the Green Party, Reform and Your Party, with one each.
Here, we take a look at the potential outcomes on May 7, as well as the key issues that may influence voter decisions.
How the elections will work
There will be 310 candidates standing in the election across the borough’s 66 seats, with each of Sefton’s 22 wards electing three councillors.
The candidate who receives the most votes will be elected to serve a four-year term until May 2030, while the candidate in second place will serve a two-year term until May 2028.
The candidate who records the third highest number of votes will serve for one year until May 2027.
Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Reform all targeting areas
Sefton has a varied political history, having been controlled by Conservative administrations between 1974 and 1986. It was then under no overall control for over 25 years, until 2012, with Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders. Since 2012, the council has been under Labour majority control.
Labour looks set to suffer losses in these elections, partly because voters are widely expected to reflect dissatisfaction with the national government, whose poll ratings have remained below 20% since February, according to YouGov’s voting intentions tracker.
It is not generally thought, however, that Labour will lose control of the council. Sophie Stowers, a research manager at More in Common pollsters, told the ECHO that Sefton is unusual within Merseyside in that the Conservatives have historically performed well in more affluent areas of the borough.
She said that those people are often happy to vote Conservative, while other Merseyside voters may not be, which could make for a “split contest” between the Tories and Reform for the right-wing vote.
For example, while Reform may “do alright in places like Litherland, Netherton and Bootle,” in “more affluent places” like Birkdale, “the Tories and Lib Dems may be more successful,” she said.
This divided picture may ultimately benefit Labour, which could hold up better in Sefton than it does elsewhere in Merseyside, she added.
Pressure on council finances
Sefton constituents will be aware their council tax rose by 4.99% this month, after the council was confronted with a £29m funding gap for the 2025/6 financial year, primarily driven by pressures on adult social care and children’s services.
The council has also been given permission by the UK Government to sell off £12m in assets to help balance its budget. The Labour administration has described its budget as “balanced and responsible,” while Conservative critics called the reliance on council tax increases and asset sales as financially “reckless”.
The state of council finances may be an issue that voters consider, as well as more localised issues surrounding food poverty, housing, employment and health. The stark wealth divide between the borough’s different communities will mean that voters come to the polls with a wide range of priorities.
Eagerly awaited projects such as the restoration of Southport Pier and the redevelopment of Bootle Strand may also be on people’s minds as they go to the polls, depending on where they live.
Sophie said, in general, the local elections are expected to be “very difficult for Labour”. She added: “In places like London they’re going to get quite a beating from the Greens,” while “in other parts of the country,” people are thinking they’ll give Reform a chance.
She said: “Labour are losing votes to their left and their right. It’s very hard to come up with a political position that satisfies both groups of voters.”
You can find a full list of the candidates standing in Sefton’s local elections here.
