Labour losses pile up in England local elections as Reform UK makes gains

Reform runaway winners in north-east, likely pushing Labour into opposition in Hartlepool, with other losses for Starmer in Chorley, Wigan, Redditch and Tamworth

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage during a visit to Havering Town Hall in Romford, following the 2026 local election results. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The scale of the electoral challenge facing Labour has been laid bare as the party haemorrhages councillors at the local elections and Reform makes significant gains.

Keir Starmer’s party went into Thursday’s local elections expected to lose up to 1,850 councillors, with senior figures describing the contest as “tough”.