Independents and Reform UK defeat Labour in all 4 local council seats
On 7th May 2026 Kirkby went to the polls to vote in the local elections to elect borough councillors to Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, with 1 out of 3 seats in each of the 4 Kirkby wards contested:
- The independent candidate David Hitchmough was elected in Cherryfield ward, the first non-Labour councillor in Cherryfield ward since 1979
- The Reform UK candidate Alexander Hitchmough was re-elected in Northwood ward, the first non-Labour councillor in Northwood ward (and predecessors) since the formation of Knowsley Council in 1973
- The independent candidate Steve Guy was re-elected in Shevington ward, the first non-Labour councillor in Northwood ward (and predecessors) since the formation of Knowsley Council in 1973
- The independent candidate Brian Johns was re-elected in Whitefield ward
This is the first time since the formation of Knowsley Council in 1973 that all seats up for election went to non-Labour candidates.
