Lancs councils settle into new rhythms after May elections
A coalition between the Conservatives and localist party Our West Lancashire will lead West Lancs, while the Lib Dems and the Independent Group will continue their pact in Pendle.
The two Lancashire councils have announced leadership changes following the local elections in May.
In West Lancashire, Cllr David Whittington, leader of the Conservative Group, will take over from Labour’s Cllr Yvonne Gagan, who has stepped down.
The council remains under no overall control following May’s elections, when Reform UK won seven seats and Labour lost nine.
Labour remains the largest party by seats with 13 but Our West Lancashire and the Tories have a combined 23. Cllr Adrian Owens, leader of the Our West Lancashire Group, has been selected as deputy leader.
Whittington said: “I am honoured to have been elected as the new Leader of West Lancashire Council and I look forward to working with all parties towards what is best for our residents.
“Delivering for our residents over the next year will be more difficult than usual in view of Local Government Reorganisation due to take effect in two years’ time. However, I am looking forward to this challenge and hope, working closely with Cllr Owens to leave the Council in the best position possible for the future. I would also like to thank Councillor Gagen for her work as previous leader.”
In Pendle, Cllr Asjad Mahmood, leader of the Pendle Community Independents Group, has been selected as leader for the second time, replacing Lib Dem David Whipp, who lost his seat to Reform in May by a seven-vote margin.
Cllr Lola Whipp, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, is the council’s deputy leader.
The independents are the largest group on West Lancashire Council with 11 seats. The Conservatives have eight seats and the Lib Dems have seven.
Mahmood, who was a Labour member until April 2024, said: “I am proud to have been elected again as leader.
“I am pleased that our shared administration with the Liberal Democrat Group has come together to provide the strong leadership needed to drive forward the council’s key policy priorities.
“I am confident that the stability of the council’s leadership will help us build on the significant achievements we have made over the last couple of years.”
The administration has set out a 10-point plan, which includes the delivery of a redeveloped Pendle Rise.
The previous Labour administration in West Lancs was nothing at all to write home about, but a coalition of Tories and Ormskirk parochialists is likely bad news, particularly for Skem (the left-behind Liverpool overspill estate) when WLDC should absolutely be pushing to be as big a part of the Liverpool City Region as possible with properly joined-up transport, training and economic links.
By Conny Coarse
That is what we need, more Local Community Democracy. I only hope they focus on the needs of The Community, and not the wants of outside Capital Corporations (often local wealth extractors rather than local wealth creators).
By Anonymous
Owel shouldn’t have joined with the Tories but remained independent – let the others form a minority. West Lancs should be part of the Liverpool City Region it has nothing in common with the other Lancashire authorities.
By Anon
@June 01, 2026 at 11:55 am
By Conny Coarse
parochialists? Or localists as I call them? If I were Ormskirk and Skemlesdale, I’d set up town councils in those currently unparished areas which would be very handy with forthcoming LGR.
By Rye
David Whittington takes charge at a crucial moment for West Lancashire. As devolution plans are finalised, he must make the case that our future lies with the Liverpool City Region, not under a county administration centred in Preston. Skelmersdale was built as a Liverpool overspill new town, and to this day West Lancashire’s economy, transport links and cultural identity are far more closely tied to Merseyside than to central Lancashire. Yet local people continue to see decisions made miles away by a county authority whose priorities are understandably focused elsewhere. While the Liverpool City Region benefits from devolved powers, investment and strategic planning, West Lancashire remains on the outside looking in. Historic boundaries should not stand in the way of economic reality. If we want better transport, stronger investment and a brighter future for Skelmersdale and the wider borough, now is the time to push for West Lancashire to join the Liverpool City Region.
By Anon
I’m concerned about our future generations with the way things currently are, and the proposed way forward. The West Lancs leaders comments in various media outlets about an agreement with Chorley and South Ribble are rather bizarre. Where is the logic in joining up with two areas which are miles away from the largest towns in the district Ormskirk and Skelmersdale? West Lancs needs to be renamed, reshaped, and the vast majority of the patch needs to be included in the Liverpool City Region.
By George