Reform Party Secures One‑Third of Declared Seats as Labour Loses Nearly Half of Its Defended Seats

TL;DR: Reform Party has captured roughly one‑third of the seats announced so far, while Labour has shed just under half of the seats it was defending, with voter turnout at 43%, eight points above 2022.

Context Local elections across England are still being tallied, with results from Scotland and Wales pending. Unlike a general election, where outcomes are known by breakfast, these contests unfold over days. The current picture shows a fragmented electorate, with votes spreading across five or more parties.

Key Facts Reform Party leads the count, winning about 33% of the seats declared to date. Labour, defending the most seats in this cycle, has lost just under 50% of those contests – the steepest decline among all parties. Turnout reached 43%, a rise of eight percentage points compared with the 2022 local elections.

In Tameside, Labour defended 17 seats and retained only one, all losses to Reform. A similar pattern emerged in Wigan, where Reform swept all 22 Labour seats. The Conservatives continue to lose ground, while the Liberal Democrats and Greens make modest gains, the former taking control of Stockport and Portsmouth councils.

What It Means Reform’s surge indicates growing appeal beyond its previous strongholds, yet the party has not yet taken control of many councils because only a third of seats were up for election in the areas counted so far. Labour’s losses, especially in its heartland, could pressure the party’s leadership and shape its strategy ahead of the next general election. The higher turnout suggests renewed voter engagement, which may amplify volatility in upcoming contests.

Watch for final results from Scotland and Wales, and for how Labour responds to the setbacks in its traditional bases.