Local election results 2026: Reform UK gains seats across the New Forest
Hampshire County Council election results have been announced across the New Forest, with five divisions changing party control compared with the last local elections in 2021.
The Liberal Democrats won the most seats locally, securing four out of 10 New Forest seats.
Reform UK and Conservatives each won three seats.
Reform UK recorded strong vote shares across the New Forest, winning three divisions and placing second in all others.
Winners
Brockenhurst: Dan Poole, Conservatives
Dibden and Hythe: Malcolm Wade, Liberal Democrats
Lymington and Boldre: Jack Davies, Liberal Democrats
Lyndhurst and Fordingbridge: David Jonathan Millar, Liberal Democrats
New Milton: Julie Vigor, Reform UK
New Milton North, Milford and Hordle: Fran Carpenter, Conservatives
Ringwood: Martin John Eyre, Reform UK
South Waterside: Paul Stephen Barrett, Reform UK
Totton North and Netley Marsh: Neville Stuart Penman, Conservatives
Totton South and Marchwood: David Harrison, Liberal Democrats
What has changed
Conservatives lost five previously held New Forest divisions.
The winning vote share in eight divisions decreased compared to the last local elections in 2021.
Reform UK also gained three seats and finished second in the remaining seven divisions.
The table below compares the 2021 and 2026 election results across New Forest divisions, showing how voting patterns have changed.
Turnout
This year’s local election turnout increased in all divisions compared with 2021.
Average turnout across the 10 New Forest divisions was 35% in 2021, now 45% in 2026.
The table below shows how voter turnout changed in this election.
Overall control of Hampshire County Council was still being confirmed at the time of publication.
