Summary
The 2026 United Kingdom local elections have resulted in a seismic transformation of the political landscape. Reform UK achieved unprecedented gains, securing a net increase of 1,451 council seats and taking control of 14 councils, including long-standing Labour and Conservative strongholds. Labour suffered its most severe local election defeat in decades, losing 1,496 councillors and control of 38 councils, while the Conservatives shed 563 seats and now hold just nine councils. The Liberal Democrats and Green Party also made historic advances, with the Liberal Democrats reaching 844 councillors and the Greens 587, each capturing new councils. In Wales, Labour’s 72-year dominance ended as Plaid Cymru and Reform UK surged ahead, leaving Labour with only nine Senedd seats and prompting the resignation of First Minister Eluned Morgan. The scale of Labour’s losses has triggered a leadership crisis, with mounting calls for Keir Starmer’s resignation.
Detailed Report
1. Election Results
Labour lost 1,496 councillors and control of 38 councils, including heartlands held for generations. The Conservatives experienced parallel setbacks, losing 563 seats and falling to 801 councillors nationwide, with significant defeats in Hampshire, Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. On the Isle of Wight, the party was reduced to just two seats. In Wales, Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party in the Senedd with 43 seats, Reform UK secured 34, and Labour was left with only nine, ending its 72-year grip. Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan lost her seat in Ceredigion Penfro and subsequently resigne. National vote share projections placed Reform UK at 27%, the Conservatives at 20%, Labour at 15%, the Greens at 18%, and the Liberal Democrats at 16%, according to BBC and Sky News analyses.
2. Reform UK’s Historic Gains: A New Political Force
Reform UK’s breakthrough was historic, with a net gain of 1,451 council seats and control of 14 councils. The party captured Tameside (ending 47 years of Labour rule), Sunderland and Gateshead (each held by Labour for over 50 years), and swept all 22 Labour-defended seats in Gateshead. Additional gains included St Helens, Thurrock, Wakefield, Sandwell, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Havering, Suffolk, and Essex. Reform UK’s success extended beyond traditional Labour areas, with significant advances in Conservative strongholds. Party leader Nigel Farage stated, as reported by Sky News and The Independent, “We haven’t just crushed the red wall; today in Essex, we’ve crushed the blue wall as well. This is a truly historic change in British politics. Reform UK is here to stay, and we are now the main opposition to the old parties across much of the country.” The party’s performance in Wales, where Dan Thomas topped the poll in Casnewydd Islwyn, further underscored its national reach.
3. Labour Leadership in Crisis: Starmer Faces Mounting Pressure
Labour’s defeat has triggered an open revolt against Keir Starmer’s leadership. More than thirty MPs—including Richard Burgon, Graham Stringer, John McDonnell, Louise Haigh, Simon Opher, and Nadia Whittome—have publicly called for his resignation. Opher argued Starmer “could not carry Labour through the next general election—nor could he stop the far right entering No. 10.” Whittome accused the leadership of “doubling down on Reform-lite policies,” urging a return to working-class roots. Over 110 Labour councillors have signed a demand for an “orderly transition” of leadership. London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned that “the threat to Labour is existential” without radical change. Reports indicate Energy Secretary Ed Miliband privately advised Starmer to set a resignation timetable, though this remains unconfirmed. In response, Starmer categorically rejected calls to resign, vowing to contest any formal leadership challenge and affirmed his intent to remain Prime Minister.
4. Liberal Democrats: Consolidation and Expansion
The Liberal Democrats achieved a net gain of 155 councillors, bringing their total to 844, and now control 15 councils, an increase of one. The party consolidated its presence in strongholds such as Cheltenham, Eastleigh, Kingston upon Thames, and St Albans, while gaining control of East Surrey, West Surrey, Portsmouth, and Stockport. Party leader Sir Ed Davey described the results as evidence that “where Liberal Democrats work hard, listen to local people, and deliver on their priorities, voters respond.” Deputy leader Daisy Cooper highlighted the party’s ability to “break through” in both urban and rural areas. The Liberal Democrats’ national vote share was estimated at 16%, reflecting their growing influence in local government.
5. Green Party: Record Gains and New Councils
The Green Party achieved its best-ever local election result, gaining 441 councillors for a total of 587 and taking control of five councils: Hackney, Lewisham, Waltham Forest, Norwich, and Hastings. In Hackney and Lewisham, the Greens also won directly elected mayoralties, marking a significant breakthrough in urban governance. Green Party leader Zack Polanski stated, “Two-party politics is not just dying, it is dead. The Greens are now a leading force in local government, delivering real change on the issues that matter—climate, cost of living, and social justice.” The party’s national vote share was estimated at 18%, matching or exceeding Labour and the Liberal Democrats in several regions.
6. Wales: End of Labour Dominance
In Wales, Plaid Cymru became the largest party in the Senedd with 43 seats, followed by Reform UK with 34, and Labour with just nine. The loss of her seat in Ceredigion Penfro prompted First Minister Eluned Morgan to resign as Welsh Labour leader, marking the first time a sitting leader of a devolved UK government has been unseated while in office. These results ended Labour’s 72-year dominance in Welsh politics and signalled a dramatic realignment in the devolved legislature.
Conclusion
The 2026 local elections have reshaped British politics in ways unseen for generations. With Reform UK dismantling Labour and Conservative strongholds, the Liberal Democrats and Greens achieving historic breakthroughs, and Labour in disarray, the era of two-party dominance appears all but over. A fractured political landscape and surging new forces signal a turbulent and unpredictable future for the UK.