Labour Party suffers losses in local elections as Reform UK gains ground

On May 8, 2026, initial results from local and regional elections across England, Scotland, and Wales showed significant losses for the Labour Party of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Voters cast ballots on May 7 for over 5,000 council seats across 136 local authorities, as well as mayoral positions in six urban areas. The populist party Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, emerged as a major winner, capturing 61 seats previously held by Labour. Analysts report that Labour has lost approximately 87% of the seats it was defending in the counted areas, with a 25% drop in vote share in those regions. Nigel Farage hailed the results as a historic political shift. Prime Minister Starmer accepted responsibility for the performance, describing the results as painful, but stated he will not resign and remains committed to his reform agenda. The Conservatives also faced significant losses, with roughly 65% of their seats transferring to other parties, primarily Reform UK.