Reform UK Gains Seats from Labour and Conservatives in Early UK Council Results

Reform UK made significant gains at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives in early council election results overnight across Scotland, Wales and 136 English councils.

These polls mark the biggest set of elections since the 2024 general election and serve as a key test for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The full picture will emerge later Friday as most councils count ballots then, along with results for the Senedd and Scottish Parliament.

Reform UK picked up seats in former Labour heartlands in northern England and the Midlands, including Wigan, Bolton, Salford and Halton. In Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch and Tamworth, Labour lost control of the councils as Reform support surged.

The last time these councils faced election, Reform was in its infancy, so the party can only win majority control in areas where all seats are contested. For most councils counting overnight, only a third of seats were up, so Reform's best chance of taking power may come later.

Reform also gained at Conservative expense in Brentwood, Tamworth and North East Lincolnshire. Overall, the Tories lost seats but held the council in Harlow, Essex.

The Conservatives face a battle to reclaim Westminster and Wandsworth councils in London, flagship areas they controlled for decades until Labour won them in 2022. Reform poses a threat in later-declaring county councils like Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk. In southern England parts including Surrey and Sussex, Liberal Democrats challenge the Tories most.

Liberal Democrats saw mixed results overnight. They won control of Stockport and Portsmouth, where they were already the largest party, by taking seats from Labour. But Reform gains cost them control in Hull.

The party expects stronger showings later, hoping to take councils from Conservatives in Hampshire and Surrey.

The Green Party of England and Wales gained seats overnight in Salford and Exeter. Their main London targets, Hackney and Lewisham, declare later.

Reform eyes gains in later-declaring London outer boroughs like Bromley and Barking & Dagenham. Conservatives hope to reclaim Barnet in north London from Labour.

Reform targets former Labour strongholds like Sunderland, Gateshead and Walsall. In Birmingham, run by Labour, all five main parties compete amid polls showing support for pro-Palestinian independents; the result could leave the city without overall control for the first time in over a decade.

In Wales, Labour faces losing dominance after over a century as the biggest party in Westminster and Cardiff Bay elections. Multiple party sources told the BBC they expect Labour losses in the Senedd election, with Plaid Cymru and Reform UK competing for first. Greens seek a first Senedd seat, while Welsh Liberal Democrats aim to grow from one.

The SNP targets a fifth term in the Scottish Parliament.