Voters across England, Scotland, and Wales have cast their ballots in one of the most closely watched sets of local elections in recent British political history. With counting now under way, the UK election results are beginning to emerge — and the picture looks deeply challenging for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour government.
What Elections Are Taking Place?
These are the second set of local elections held under the premiership of Keir Starmer, taking place against a backdrop of significant Labour unpopularity, a persistent cost of living crisis, and a sharp rise in support for both Reform UK and the Green Party.
Labour entered the vote defending more than 2,500 seats, the Conservatives over 1,300, and the Liberal Democrats just under 700. Over 25,000 candidates were nominated to stand across the country. Reform UK, Labour, the Conservatives, and the Greens all fielded candidates in over 95% of wards, making this one of the most contested local election cycles in modern British history.
All 32 London boroughs are also holding elections in line with their normal four-year cycle, adding significant weight to an already high-stakes night.
What the Results Are Showing So Far
Counting began overnight, with results continuing to flow through Friday morning. The early picture points to a bruising night for the governing party, with Labour projected to lose as many as 2,000 seats across the UK.
One of the most striking early results has come from the north of England. Reform UK have taken Leigh Central, Leigh South, and Leigh West wards in Wigan — a borough long considered a Labour stronghold and formerly the parliamentary constituency of Andy Burnham, who served as MP there from 2001 to 2017.
Labour’s Difficult Night
Even within Labour ranks, the mood has been sombre. Senior Labour figures have publicly acknowledged the party is facing a difficult night, with one MP admitting “we are going to lose some good people tonight” and that voters feel they “want change faster” and are simply “not feeling it” yet.
Labour is defending a particularly exposed set of seats — many of which were won during the Partygate era when the party was polling around 35% nationally. It now sits at approximately 20% in national polls, leaving it significantly vulnerable in councils it has held for decades, particularly across northern metropolitan boroughs where Reform UK is making its most aggressive push.
Councils including Wigan, Sunderland, and Barnsley are among those at risk of changing hands before the night is out.
Reform UK’s Historic Surge
The biggest story of the night is the dramatic rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. The party has gone from virtually no local government presence just a few years ago to polling over 27% nationally — a transformation that is showing up in real results on the ground.
Reform is projected to take control of county councils in Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk, representing what analysts are calling a historic political realignment in England’s rural heartlands. These are areas that were once safe Conservative territory, now swinging decisively toward Farage’s movement.
The party’s ambition was clear from the start of the year, with Farage announcing plans to spend over £5 million on a mass direct mail and social media campaign, describing these local elections as “the single most important event” before the next general election. Reform also successfully challenged a government attempt to postpone several elections earlier in the year, with the government ultimately backing down after legal advice suggested the delays could be unlawful.
Conservatives and Liberal Democrats
The Conservatives are navigating a deeply difficult squeeze. Polling at around 18%, the party faces Reform eating into its vote in Leave-leaning areas while the Liberal Democrats chip away at its support across southern England. Several councils the Conservatives have held for decades now look vulnerable.
Kemi Badenoch launched the Conservative campaign in March, framing the elections as an opportunity to rebuild trust. Ed Davey led the Liberal Democrat push with a campaign launch in Surrey, targeting the party’s traditional southern heartlands.
The Green Party Factor
The Green Party, now under the leadership of Zack Polanski, is polling between 12% and 14% nationally and is being watched closely as a potential wildcard. The Greens have the potential to take control in Hastings and mount strong challenges in Norwich, Sheffield, and parts of inner London — though their impact is heavily dependent on where they have put candidates on the ground.
The party built momentum earlier this year when Green candidate Hannah Spencer won the Gorton and Denton by-election, defeating Reform UK while Labour fell to third place — a result that sent shockwaves through Westminster.
Scotland and Wales
Counting for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd will not begin until Friday morning. There are serious concerns within Labour that the party could lose control of the Welsh Senedd for the first time in its history — a result that would add further pressure on Starmer’s leadership.
When Will All Results Be Declared?
While 46 of the 136 English local authorities counted overnight, the full picture will take time to emerge. Four councils are not counting until Saturday, including three that also have mayoral elections. The very last result is expected late on Saturday night.
What These Results Mean for British Politics
These elections are far more than a routine mid-term council vote. They represent a defining moment for Keir Starmer’s government and a powerful signal of how rapidly the British political landscape has shifted since Labour’s general election victory.
With Reform making deep inroads into traditional Labour heartlands, the Conservatives fighting for survival on two fronts, and the Greens emerging as a genuine force in urban areas, the UK election results will be studied closely — not just for who controls which council, but for what they reveal about the future direction of British politics ahead of the next general election.
This article will be updated as further results are declared. Bookmark this page for the latest UK election results.