Local elections held across England on May 7, 2026 produced early and then widening signs of voter movement away from the two largest Westminster parties, with Reform UK winning hundreds of council seats and taking control in some authorities.
Local elections were held across England on Thursday, May 7, 2026, with more than 5,000 council seats contested across 136 local authorities, alongside several mayoral races.
Early counts and subsequent results showed Reform UK making significant advances, while both Labour and the Conservatives lost support in a number of areas. Broadcasters including ITV described Reform’s performance as involving “hundreds” of gains, and several outlets characterized the results as evidence of a more fragmented political landscape rather than a simple two-party contest.
Reform’s breakthrough included winning control of at least one council, Newcastle-under-Lyme, where the party secured an overall majority of seats, according to reporting cited by BBC coverage summarized in election result roundups.
The scale and meaning of the shift is still being assessed across the country. Commentators have portrayed the outcome as a major moment for Reform UK, while other reporting has emphasized that results varied by region and that final tallies and broader national implications depend on complete official returns and the mix of contests held this cycle.
