Reform UK in the 2026 Local Elections

What happened?

Local elections took place across England on 7 May 2026.

Reform UK had a very big success. They won many more council seats than before.

The main numbers

•  Reform UK won about 1,453 council seats.

This is an increase of roughly 1,452 seats.

•  They gained control of 14 councils.

•  Reform did well in many places that used to strongly support Labour or the Conservatives.

Where did Reform do well?

Reform made strong gains in:

•  North East England – places like Sunderland and Hartlepool.

•  Midlands – for example, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

•  East of England – including Essex and Suffolk.

•  Other areas such as Barnsley and Wakefield.

They took seats from both Labour and the Conservatives.

How did the other parties do?

•  Labour lost a lot of seats (around 1,200–1,500) and control of many councils. This was seen as a bad result for the government.

•  Conservatives also lost seats.

•  Liberal Democrats and Greens made some gains, but Reform was the clear winner of the night.

Why is this important?

These results show big changes in British politics. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has become much stronger at the local level. Many voters seem unhappy with the main parties.

Local councils make decisions about things like:

•  Rubbish collection

•  Roads and parks

•  Housing and schools

Winning council seats gives parties real power in their local areas.

What next?

These local results do not change who runs the UK government. But they show voter feelings. Experts say British politics is becoming more split, with no single big party dominating.

Summary

Reform UK had a strong night in the 2026 local elections. They went from almost no council seats in many areas to winning over 1,450 and taking control of 14 councils. This is a big step forward for the party.