2026 Local Elections: Everything You Need to Know About the Crucial Vote
On Thursday, May 7, 2026, voters across England will head to the polls for the largest set of local elections in three years. This crucial vote could spell significant trouble for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, as his party defends more than half of the contested seats amid predictions of heavy losses.
The Scale of the Elections
Local elections are taking place for 136 councils in England, including major cities and the entirety of London. A mix of urban authorities, rural districts, and several county councils are holding contests, with a total of 5,013 council seats up for grabs. This represents the most extensive local electoral event since 2023, serving as a key test for all political parties.
Historical Context and Seat Defences
Most of these seats were last elected in 2022, during the tenure of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government. At that time, the Tories were trailing Labour in opinion polls and losing support due to the Partygate scandal, resulting in gains for Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and Greens. Reform UK contested only a small number of seats in 2022, winning just two.
This year, Labour is defending 2,557 seats, reflecting its current strength in London and Metropolitan boroughs. The Conservatives are defending 1,362 seats, while the Liberal Democrats have 684 defences, and other parties, including independents, hold 410. These numbers, calculated by local election specialists Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher of Exeter University, account for boundary changes and notional defending parties.
Poll Predictions and Potential Outcomes
Analysis by Rallings and Thrasher suggests Labour could end up "over 1,000 councillors down," assuming it performs as poorly as in the May 2025 local elections. Since then, Labour's share of the vote in local by-elections has fallen by an average of 25%, which, if replicated, could push losses closer to 2,000 seats. The Conservatives also face jeopardy, particularly in six county council elections where Reform UK's performance could lead to dozens of seat changes.
Neither opinion polls nor recent local by-elections indicate significant changes in the past 12 months, pointing to potential heavy losses for both major parties. Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, and Greens are all likely to make net gains, with Nigel Farage's Reform party starting from a low base but expected to benefit from voter dissatisfaction.
Challenges for Political Leaders
While local elections primarily impact community issues like bin collections, social care, education, and roads, they also serve as a barometer for national concerns. According to YouGov data, issues such as the cost of living, the economy, migration, and foreign affairs rank high among voter priorities. Labour's Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch must focus on limiting losses, whereas Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, Reform's Nigel Farage, and Green leader Zack Polanski aim to meet expectations by gaining seats at the expense of larger parties.
Election Logistics and Timelines
Polls close at 10pm on May 7, with only about a third of councils counting and declaring results overnight. Most will wait until Friday, May 8, to begin counting, with full results expected in the early afternoon. A small number of councils may not finish until Saturday, May 9. PA will publish a full list of estimated declaration times closer to polling day.
Additional Elections and Voting Deadlines
On the same day, elections will be held in Scotland for the Scottish Parliament and in Wales for the Senedd. The deadline to register to vote in the May 7 elections is 11:59pm on Monday, April 20, with online applications available at gov.uk/register-to-vote. Postal vote applications must be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday, April 21, and proxy vote applications by 5pm on Tuesday, April 28, both accessible online.
