The 2021 Suffolk County Council election took place on 6 May 2021 as part of the 2021 local elections in the United Kingdom. All 75 councillors were elected from 63 electoral divisions, which return either one or two county councillors each, by first-past-the-post voting, for a four-year term of office.
Voters who live in divisions which elect two councillors (12 divisions) are entitled to cast a maximum of two votes, while those living in divisions only electing one councillor (51 divisions) are only entitled to cast one vote.
The council is subject to a Local Government Boundary Commission for England review where it is proposed to reduce the number of councillors from 75 to 70. The recommendations were due to be implemented at this election but has been deferred to the 2025 Suffolk County Council election due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The county saw a marked contrast between its rural and urban areas. The ruling Conservative administration made 8 gains across Bury St Edmund's, Ipswich and Lowestoft, but lost 5 divisions in rural Suffolk that it had won four years earlier and was traditionally stronger. The Green Party replaced Labour as the second largest party, and the latter were subsequently relegated to 5 seats. The Liberal Democrats continued their descent after making losses in 2013 and 2017, with a further loss. The Independents also finished one seat lower than 2017. With 55 seats, the Conservatives were subsequently returned for a fifth term in office and scored their joint second best number of seats (equalling 2009) since the Council was created in 1973.
Previous composition
2017 election
Composition of council seats before election
Changes between elections
In between the 2017 election and the 2021 election, the following council seats changed hands outside of by-elections:
Overall Results
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Results by Electoral Division
Babergh
Summary
Division results
East Suffolk
Division results
Ipswich
Mid Suffolk
West Suffolk
Bixley, Ipswich
Blackbourn, West Suffolk
Blything, East Suffolk
Bosmere, Mid Suffolk
Brandon, West Suffolk
Bridge, Ipswich
Bungay, East Suffolk
Carlford, East Suffolk
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Chantry, Ipswich
Clare, West Suffolk
Eastgate & Moreton Hall, West Suffolk
Exning & Newmarket, West Suffolk
Felixstowe Coastal, East Suffolk
Felixstowe North & Trimley, East Suffolk
Framlingham, East Suffolk
Gainsborough, Ipswich
Gipping Valley, Mid Suffolk
Gunton, East Suffolk
Halesworth, East Suffolk
Hardwick, West Suffolk
Hartismere, Mid Suffolk
Haverhill Cangle, West Suffolk
Haverhill East & Kedington, West Suffolk
Hoxne & Eye, Mid Suffolk
Kesgrave & Rushmere St Andrew, East Suffolk
Kessingland & Southwold, East Suffolk
Lowestoft South, East Suffolk
Martlesham, East Suffolk
Mildenhall, West Suffolk
Newmarket & Red Lodge, West Suffolk
Oulton, East Suffolk
Pakefield, East Suffolk
Priory Heath, Ipswich
Row Heath, West Suffolk
Rushmere, Ipswich
St Helen's, Ipswich
St John's, Ipswich
St Margaret's & Westgate, Ipswich
Stowmarket North & Stowupland, Mid Suffolk
Stowmarket South, Mid Suffolk
Thedwastre North, Mid Suffolk
Thedwastre South, Mid Suffolk
Thingoe North, West Suffolk
Thingoe South, West Suffolk
Thredling, Mid Suffolk
Tower, West Suffolk
*Note: Nettleton won a seat standing as an independent at the previous election.