2025 Cornwall Council election

The 2025 Cornwall Council election will be held on Thursday 1 May 2025 to elect all 87 councillors to Cornwall Council in England. It will take place on the same day as other council elections in the United Kingdom.

Cornwall Council is currently held by the Conservatives, who won the previous Council election in 2021.

Background
Cornwall Council is a unitary authority which has held elections every four years since its creation in 2009. In the previous election in 2021, the Conservative Party won a majority of seats, taking over governance of the council from the previous Liberal Democrat coalition with independent councillors.

Cornwall Council has sought a devolution agreement from the Westminster Government. In 2022 a Level Three Devolution deal, similar to English combined authorities, was offered. This deal would have required a transition from the Leader/Cabinet model, to a Directly-Elected Mayor/Cabinet system. Following decision not to pursue a level three deal, due in part to opposition to a Directly elected mayor for Cornwall, a level two deal was negotiated and passed in late 2023. This deal agreed to devolved powers and additional funding over Adult Education, Green Energy, and Cornish Cultural activities.

In January 2023, Paul Willis, Independent Councillor for the St Columb Major, St Mawgan & St Wenn ward, aligned himself to the Conservative group.

During December 2023, Cllr. Steve Arthur, who represents Perranporth, resigned from the Conservative group. Cllr Arthur, who now sits non-aligned as "Stand Alone Conservative", stated complaints with the strategic planning committee over the approval of a solar farm within his ward.

Long Rock, Marazion and St Erth by-election 2023
Following the resignation of Conservative councillor Tara Sherfield-Wong, due to health concerns, a by-election was called on 16th of February 2023.

Looe West, Pelynt, Lansallos and Lanteglos by-election 2024
Following the death of Liberal Democrat councillor Edwina Hannaford, due to "an aggressive form of cancer", a by-election was called on 27th of February 2024. The poll took place on Thursday 4 April 2024. The seat was retained by the Liberal Democrats with reduced vote share, securing 44.8% of the vote.