(Zero Hedge)—Reform UK is on track for historic gains in the 2026 UK local elections – seizing hundreds of seats in the early counts while Labour and the Conservatives suffer heavy defeats across England.
With results from 39 of 136 councils declared overnight (roughly 28% of the vote counted), Reform UK has already gained over 300 seats – a remarkable surge for a party that had almost no local presence just a few years ago.
Labour has lost 220 seats, the Conservatives 107, while the Liberal Democrats gained 35 and the Greens 22.
Labour on the Brink in Traditional Strongholds
The scale of Labour’s collapse is stark. In areas where the party was defending seats, it has retained only 23% so far. One senior Conservative commentator noted on X that Labour is “currently losing 84% of the seats they are defending.”
Labour has already lost control of at least five councils, including long-held northern strongholds. Tameside fell after 47 years of Labour rule. Heavy losses were also recorded in Halton, Hartlepool, Redditch and Tamworth, with Reform UK making major inroads in former Labour heartlands across the North and Midlands.
Birmingham on the Brink of a Reform Takeover?
Nowhere is the drama more intense than in Birmingham, where all 101 council seats are up for election. Pre-poll surveys had Reform UK as the largest party or very close to it, with some projections putting them on 47 seats – just short of an outright majority.
A widely shared post on X claimed Reform UK is “tipped to take control of Birmingham City Council in what could become one of the biggest political upsets in modern British politics.” Local issues including a prolonged bin strike and council finances have dominated the campaign. Results from Britain’s second city are expected later today.
Across the declared councils, Reform UK is winning approximately 48% of the seats contested so far. Many authorities are heading for no overall control, creating a fragmented political map.
The Liberal Democrats enjoyed a standout result in Richmond upon Thames, taking every seat. The Greens also made solid gains.
In Scotland, counting for the Scottish Parliament election begins this morning, with first results expected around lunchtime. Polls had suggested the SNP would fall short of a majority while Reform UK was on course for a significant breakthrough. Wales is also counting today.
Political Earthquake for Starmer
These are the first major elections since Labour’s 2024 landslide victory and represent a serious test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has hailed the results as evidence of a “historic change in British politics.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch faces questions about her party’s ability to stem the flow of votes to Reform on the right.
This is a developing story. More councils – including several major metropolitan boroughs – will declare throughout Friday, with the full national picture expected by Saturday.
