Keir Starmer endured a difficult night as Labour lost hundreds of councillors across England in the 2026 local elections. Nigel Farage's Reform UK emerged as the clear winner, picking up more than 300 seats, while Labour lost over 200 seats, bleeding votes to both the left and right.
Early Results Signal Trouble for Labour
Labour began losing dozens of councillors from around 1am. Reform UK secured its first significant gains in Halton, a Labour stronghold in the north, where 16 new councillors were elected. The situation worsened for Starmer by 2am, as Labour lost control of Redditch Borough Council, followed by Hartlepool and Tamworth, with Reform UK making substantial gains.
Further Losses in Key Areas
Labour lost more than 20 councillors in Wigan, the constituency of Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy. By 4am, the party lost control of Exeter council to the Greens, and Tameside—home to Angela Rayner—fell to Reform UK, which gained 18 councillors there. In London, Labour lost control of Wandsworth, signaling potential trouble in other Labour strongholds.
Pollster Luke Tryl of More in Common described Labour's losses to both Reform and the Greens as a "nightmare scenario," leaving the party without a clear direction. Professor Sir John Curtice noted that while Labour might lose fewer than the predicted 1,500 seats, the night was "a little bit worse" than expected, with further blows possible in Scotland.
Greens and Liberal Democrats Make Gains
The Greens made modest gains overnight, picking up councillors in Chorley, Salford, and Exeter, with hopes for more success later on Friday in target areas like Hackney, where the mayoral race could deliver a significant victory. The Liberal Democrats, describing their progress as the "tortoise and the hare," gained control of Stockport and Portsmouth councils but lost Hull.
Wales and Scotland Await Results
Crunch declarations in Wales and Scotland are expected later in the afternoon. The SNP is predicted to hold power in Scotland despite scandals, while Reform UK is poised for landmark gains there. In Wales, Labour faces devastating losses after 27 years in power. Trade minister Sir Chris Bryant admitted it would be "very difficult" for Labour to hold its seats in Wales.
