Vote counting is drawing to a close in England’s local elections. Preliminary results indicate weakening support for the governing Labour Party and a strong performance by the right-wing populist Reform UK, according to the BBC.
After results were counted in 131 of 136 local councils, Reform UK was winning 1,444 seats, or 28%. All but two of those seats were won by the party for the first time. Labour was losing more than 1,400 council seats, while the Conservatives were down by more than 550. In total, just over 5,000 local council mandates were contested in these elections.
Wales and Scotland
In the Welsh parliament, Labour had held a majority ever since its creation in 1999. It has now fallen behind the nationalist Plaid Cymru, which supports the region’s separation from the United Kingdom, as well as the right-wing Reform UK.
In Scotland, the left-leaning Scottish National Party is winning 58 of 129 seats and securing a majority for a record fifth time, though not an absolute one. Labour and Reform UK are so far taking 17 seats each. For the right-wing populists, these are their first mandates there.
What the results mean and reactions
As the BBC writes, Reform UK’s results show the scale of British voters’ disillusionment with the traditional parties. Britons are unhappy that the country’s two main and oldest political forces, Labour and the Conservatives, have failed to restore order in the economy and migration policy.
Journalists note that British politics is becoming increasingly fragmented. In their assessment, no party is managing to achieve clear dominance, and votes are now spread across at least five different political directions.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said his party’s success was evidence of a major shift in British politics.
Labour leader and current British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he does not intend to resign.
As additional context, the article notes that in 2025 Reform UK also emerged as the frontrunner in local elections in England that were held in another 23 local councils.