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Local Election Results Show Labour Losses to Reform UK and Greens

Labour lost control of at least 35 councils in England, 1,442 seats overall, power in Wales after 27 years, and saw its majority weakened in London boroughs. Reform UK gained 1,318 seats and 14 councils while the Green Party gained at least 331 seats and four councils. Projections based on the results suggest Labour could win 110 seats at the next general election compared with 411 in 2024.

The Independent
1 source·May 9, 1:04 PM·2m read
Local Election Results Show Labour Losses to Reform UK and GreensThe Independent
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Labour suffered losses in local council elections in England, elections in Scotland and Wales on Thursday. The party lost control of at least 35 councils across England and 1,442 seats, including in areas that had been safe strongholds. Some counts were still being declared as results continued to come in.

Reform UK gained 14 councils and 1,318 seats after 131 of 136 English councils had declared results. The party took control of six councils directly from Labour, including in traditional strongholds. Reform UK also gained control of Havering in London, its first victory there.

The Green Party gained control of four councils and at least 331 seats. It took three councils directly from Labour, including Hackney and Waltham Forest. The party also gained Hastings, which had been under no overall control. Labour lost its majority in more than 20 authorities.

In several areas including Leeds, Oxford, Swindon and Birmingham, councils moved to no overall control with Reform UK councillors forming the largest group. In London, Labour lost control of nearly half of the 21 boroughs it had previously held.

In Wales, Labour lost power for the first time since devolution began in 1999. The party lost 35 seats, ending 27 years in government. Plaid Cymru won the highest number of seats in the Senedd while Reform UK gained 34 seats. In Scotland, Labour lost four seats in the Holyrood parliament while the SNP lost six.

Reform UK gained 17 seats and the Green Party gained six. Labour had hoped to remove the SNP from power after more than a decade but fell short.

The local results have raised questions inside the party about its direction ahead of the next general election. Projections based on this week's voting suggest Labour would win 110 seats in the House of Commons. That compares with the 411 seats it won in 2024.

Reform UK would win 284 seats under those projections, falling 42 short of a majority but becoming the largest party. The Green Party would win 13 seats, an increase of nine from its current total.

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