Reform UK surges in local elections

Reform UK has made sweeping gains in local elections in England, winning control of ten councils and hundreds of seats, in a blow to both Labour and the Conservatives.

The results were declared on 2 May, following elections the day before in 23 councils and six mayoral contests, as well as a parliamentary by-election in Runcorn and Helsby.

A by-election by six votes

Reform won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, in Cheshire, taking the seat from Labour by just six votes after a recount. Sarah Pochin becomes Reform's fifth MP.

Labour had won the seat with a majority of more than 14,000 at last year's general election.

Councils

Reform took control of councils including Kent, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Durham. It won more than 600 council seats, many of them from the Conservatives, who lost control of all the councils they were defending.

Reform also won two new mayoralties, with Andrea Jenkyns elected in Greater Lincolnshire and Luke Campbell in Hull and East Yorkshire.

Farage celebrates

The Reform leader, Nigel Farage, said the results marked the end of two-party politics in Britain. He said his party was now the real opposition to Labour.

Labour and the Conservatives

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said he understood voters' frustration and that the government would go further and faster to deliver change.

The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said the results were very difficult for her party and that it had more work to do to win back trust.

The Liberal Democrats and Greens also made gains.

What it means

Political experts say the results show how fragmented British politics has become, with five parties winning significant support. Reform now leads some national opinion polls.

Councils run by Reform have promised to cut waste and review spending, including on climate policies and diversity programmes.

Birmingham

There were no council elections in Birmingham this year. The city's next all-out council elections are due in 2026.