Reform UK Wins England Local Elections as Labour and Conservatives Lose Ground

The elections covered more than 5,000 council seats across nearly 140 electoral areas, including major cities such as London boroughs, Birmingham, Newcastle, and Sunderland.

Labour loses more than half its seats

The governing Labour Party (UK), which held 2,403 of the contested seats before the vote, lost 1,406 of them and ended up with 997 seats.

Despite remaining in government nationally, Labour finished second in the local contests.

Conservatives fall to fourth place

The main opposition Conservative Party (UK) performed worse, coming in fourth overall with 773 seats.

Reform UK surge

Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, dramatically increased its representation from just 2 seats before the election to 1,444 seats, making it the standout winner of the night.

The Liberal Democrats (UK) secured 834 seats, while the Green Party increased its total by 377 seats to reach 508.

London results

In London, Labour lost control in several boroughs it previously dominated. The party also lost the Westminster borough to the Conservatives, while no party gained a majority in Enfield and Haringey, both areas with large Turkish communities.

Labour also lost control of Hackney to the Greens. The Greens won three London boroughs in total, while Reform UK secured control of one borough.

Starmer reacts

UK Prime Minister and Labour leader Keir Starmer described the results as “very difficult” in an article for The Guardian, taking full responsibility for the outcome.

He said his government would continue working for a “fairer, safer and stronger country” and added that the key lesson from the results was the need to listen more closely to voters.