1998 Pendle Borough Council election
17 seats were contested in the election, with the Liberal Democrats defending 10 seats, Labour 6 and the Conservatives 1 seat. The election saw controversy over proxy votes, as the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties accused each other of abusing the system. During the campaign the Liberal Democrat national leader Paddy Ashdown came to Pendle to support his party. The results saw no change in the political balance of the council, with the Liberal Democrats remaining in control of the council. The Labour party gained 2 seats from the Liberal Democrats in Bradley and Waterside wards, but the Liberal Democrats took the seats of Walverden and Whitefield back. Meanwhile, the Conservative group leader, Roy Clarkson, held the only seat the Conservatives had been defending in Reedley. Overall turnout in the election was 34.4%.
Election result
One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats stayed in overall control of the council.