Leaders of Labour, Conservative, Green and Reform parties in Peterborough to face election next year - along with other city political big beasts

In recent history, Peterborough City Council has held elections in ‘thirds’ – so a third of all the city councillors (in general, one each from most of the 22 wards) are elected over a three year cycle, followed by a fallow year.

But with the Government planning a major restructure of how local councils are run, in 2027 the plan was for all 60 city councillors to stand for election.

However, now that plan for Local Government has been postponed – meaning the 2027 Peterborough election will once again see just a third of council seats facing the public vote (not including any councillors who may choose to stand down.)

And the list of councillors set to be up for election sees some of the biggest names in Peterborough politics standing.

On the city council there are six political groups (and a handful of independents) – Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Reform UK, Green Party and Peterborough First.

Four group leaders facing election

Of the six parties, FOUR group leaders will be standing – including the leader of the Peterborough City Council.

The four leaders standing are:

Shabina Qayyum – Leader of the Labour Party and Peterborough City Council (East Ward)

Wayne Fitzgerald – Leader of the Conservative Party (West Ward)

Andrew O’Neill – Leader of Reform UK (Fletton & Woodston)

Heather Skibsted – Leader of the Green Party (Orton Longueville)

While most councillors only face election after four years, cllr O’Neill will face the vote after just over a year.

This is because he won his seat in a by-election following the sad death of cllr Nick Thulborne – and it is the ‘seat’ that is up for election every three years, rather than the councillor personally.

Four deputy leaders standing – plus other big names

Along with the group leaders, a number of other big names in Peterborough politics will also be up for election in 2027.

A number of deputy group leaders and cabinet members will face the vote.

Mohammed Jamil – Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Cabinet Member for Finance & Corporate Governance

Steve Allen – Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party (Eye, Thorney and Newborough)

Nicola Day – Deputy Leader of the Green Group (Orton Waterville)

Chris Wiggin – Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Cabinet Member for Environment (Hampton Vale)

Katy Cole – Cabinet Member for Children and Young People – Labour (Dogsthorpe)

Judy Fox – Former Mayor of Peterborough – Peterborough First (Werrington)

Jade Seager – Cabinet Advisor for Regulatory Services and Enforcement (Liberal Democrat)

The other councillors set to face an election in 2027 are:

Raja Sabeel Ahmed – Conservative (Ravensthorpe)

Simon Barkham – Independent (Paston and Walton)

Sandra Bond – Liberal Democrats (Gunthorpe)

Peter Hiller – Peterborough First (Glinton & Castor)

John Howard – Conservative (Hargate & Hempsted)

Arfan Khan – Conservative (Park Ward)

Asim Mahmood – Conservative (North Ward)

Brian Rush – Peterborough First (Stanground South)

Richard Strangward – Labour (Bretton)

The councillor’s whose seats are set for election are not forced to stand themselves in 2027 – and other councillors may choose to to step down if they wish.

There are no seats scheduled to be up for grabs in the Barnack or Wittering wards, as they only have one councillor each.

Make up of the council – and how it could change

As of September 16 2026, the largest party on Peterborough City Council is the Conservative Party, with 14 councillors

There are 10 Labour councillors, nine independents, eight Liberal Democrats, eight members of Peterborough First, seven Green Party members, and four members of Reform UK.

Labour are the ruling party because of a coalition set up with other parties – no party has the 31 seats needed for an overall majority.

The 2027 elections could make a huge difference to the make up of the council.

Six Conservative seats, four Labour, three Liberal Democrats, three Peterborough First, two Green, one Reform UK and one independent are all up for grabs next year.

What happens in 2028

While the plans for Local Government Reorganisation are on hold, there are currently no firm plans on whether there will be another year of elections in ‘thirds,’ whether all councillors will face election, or if there will even be elections at all.

The initial plan for this year was for there to be no local elections in Peterborough – but plans changed, and a third of the seats went out to the public in May.