Reform Party Secures Majority on St Helens Council in 2026 Local Elections

TL;DR: Reform Party secured 34 seats, taking control of St Helens Borough Council in the 2026 local elections with a turnout of 38.5%. Independents swept all three Rainhill ward seats.

Context St Helens woke up to a political shift as the Reform Party clinched a majority on the borough council. The election decided 46 seats across the area, with votes counted on Friday 8 May. Turnout reached 38.5%, amounting to 51,751 ballots cast.

Key Facts Reform Party candidates won 34 seats, giving the party overall control of the council. Liberal Democrats secured three seats, as did the Newton‑le‑Willow Independents and the Rainhill Independents. Labour took two seats, while the Conservatives won one. In the Rainhill ward, Independent candidates Dunn, Greaves, and Tasker each won seats with vote totals of 2,095, 2,113, and 2,372 respectively.

What It Means The Reform Party’s majority enables it to set the council’s agenda, influence budget allocations, and guide local policy without needing coalition support. The low turnout suggests voter engagement remains a challenge, which could affect the legitimacy of decisions moving forward. Independents’ clean sweep in Rainhill highlights continued appetite for non‑party candidates in that neighbourhood.

Watch for how the new administration handles upcoming budget debates, housing proposals, and responses to local service concerns, as well as whether opposition parties regroup for the next election cycle.