See main article: Preston City Council elections.
Elections to Preston City Council took place on 1 May 2008.
Preston council is elected "in thirds" which means one councillor from each three-member ward, and councillors from selected two-member wards, are elected each year, with one year free from all elections to ensure all councillors serve a full term.
Due to the "in thirds" system, these election results are compared to the 2004 Preston Council election.
In this summary, "seats" represent the number of wards each party are defending. In two cases this year, the winning candidate in 2004 has since defected to another party, but for comparison the defending party is that from 2004.
In this summary box, The Left List are a party split from RESPECT - The Unity Coalition.
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Conservative Party, majority 51
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Labour Party, majority 265
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Liberal Democrats, majority 329
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by independent, majority 221
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Conservative Party, majority 41. The winning candidate subsequently defected to the Liberal Democrats (and switched back to the Conservatives after losing the 2008 election). The result in 2008 will be based on the Conservative "defence", as is normal practice when comparing election results.
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Conservative Party, majority 650
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Conservative Party, majority 1,142
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Liberal Democrats, majority 380. The winning candidate subsequently defected to the Conservative Party. The result in 2008 will be based on the Liberal Democrat "defence", as is normal practice when comparing election results.
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Liberal Democrats, majority 137
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Liberal Democrats, majority 409
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Conservative Party, majority 828
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Conservative Party, majority 1,711
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Labour Party, majority 631
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Labour Party, majority 185
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Conservative Party, majority 639
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Labour Party, majority 185
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Labour Party, majority 199
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Labour Party, majority 142
Won in corresponding 2004 elections by Labour Party, majority 49
Held by Labour in 2008 by-election, majority over Liberal Democrats of 23.