The upcoming local elections on Thursday 7 May 2026 will see more than 30 million voters across England, Wales, and Scotland head to the polls. These elections, occurring two years into a Labour government, include contests for devolved administrations, six mayoral races, and over 4,500 council seats. The results are seen as a major test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and all main political parties.
Polls suggest a challenging night for Labour, which is defending the majority of councils. The party could lose more than 1,800 councillors, representing nearly three-quarters of the seats it is defending. Significant losses are also anticipated for the Conservative Party. Meanwhile, Reform UK and the Green Party aim to convert their surging popularity into electoral gains, with key battlegrounds including Sunderland for Reform and Hackney for the Greens.
In Scotland and Wales, nationalist parties are expected to benefit. Plaid Cymru has a chance to take the Welsh Senedd for the first time in a historic victory, while the Scottish National Party looks to consolidate support after earlier predictions of a Labour resurgence. The elections will also test whether Nigel Farage's Reform party and Zack Polanski's Greens can secure real power at local and devolved levels.
