| Election Name: | 2023 Harlow District Council election |
| Country: | Essex |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 2022 Harlow District Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2022 |
| Next Election: | 2024 Harlow District Council election |
| Next Year: | 2024 |
| Seats For Election: | 11 out of 33 seats to Harlow District Council |
| Majority Seats: | 17 |
| Turnout: | 25.2% |
| Leader1: | Russell Perrin |
| Party1: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Last Election1: | 23 seats, 48.1% |
| Seats Before1: | 20 |
| Seats1: | 5 |
| Seats After1: | 21 |
| Seat Change1: | 1 |
| Popular Vote1: | 6,675 |
| Percentage1: | 41.5% |
| Swing1: | 6.6% |
| Leader2: | Chris Vince |
| Party2: | Labour Party (UK) |
| Last Election2: | 10 seats, 40.1% |
| Seats Before2: | 13 |
| Seats2: | 6 |
| Seats After2: | 12 |
| Seat Change2: | 1 |
| Popular Vote2: | 7,041 |
| Percentage2: | 43.8% |
| Swing2: | 3.7% |
| Leader | |
| Posttitle: | Leader after election |
| Before Election: | Russell Perrin |
| Before Party: | Conservative Party (UK) |
| After Election: | Dan Swords |
| After Party: | Conservative Party (UK) |
The 2023 Harlow District Council election took place on 4 May 2023 to elect members of Harlow District Council in Essex, England.[1] This was on the same day as other local elections across England. One third of the council was up for election.
The Conservatives retained their majority on the council.[2] Immediately after the election the Conservative leader of the council, Russell Perrin, announced his resignation as leader.[3] At the subsequent annual council meeting on 25 May 2023 the new Conservative leader, 22-year-old Dan Swords, was appointed leader of the council.[4]
The Statement of Persons Nominated, which details the candidates standing in each ward, was released by Harlow District Council following the close of nomination on 5 April 2023.[5] The results were:[6]
The Conservative leader of the council, Russell Perrin, said the election was a "brilliant result" for the party.[7] Robert Halfon, the Conservative MP for Harlow, thanked voters and noted that the gain from Labour in Staple Tye resulted in the ward having all Conservative councillors for the first time.[8]
The leader of the Labour group on the council, Chris Vince, called the election a "good result for Harlow Labour", pointing to the party winning the popular vote and the majority of seats up for election.[9]