Reform UK Gains Ground as Labour Endures Historic Welsh Loss and Council Setbacks

TL;DR: Reform UK surges with control of multiple English councils and 1,200+ councillors; Labour suffers a historic defeat in Wales and loses over 20 councils; the SNP stays Scotland’s largest party.

Context The 2026 local and devolved elections have reshaped the UK political map. Voters across England, Wales and Scotland turned out in record numbers, deciding the fate of thousands of council seats and the composition of the Welsh and Scottish parliaments.

Key Facts Labour’s dominance crumbled in Wales, where it lost power for the first time in more than a century. Plaid Cymru secured 43 seats, Reform UK came second with 34, and Labour fell to third, ahead of the Conservatives. The defeat also claimed the seat of First Minister Eluned Morgan. The Welsh parliament expanded from 60 to 96 seats, using a proportional representation system that elects six members per new constituency.

In England, Reform UK capitalised on its expanded candidacy. The party now controls councils in Sunderland, Thurrock, Suffolk, Essex, Havering and Newcastle‑under‑Lyme, adding more than 1,200 councillors nationwide. Labour lost control of over 20 councils, ceding several to Reform, one to the Conservatives, one to the Greens and the remainder to no overall control. The Greens captured Norwich, Waltham Forest and Hastings, gaining nearly 400 councillors. The Liberal Democrats took Portsmouth and Stockport but lost Hull. The Conservatives, despite losing over 400 seats and seven councils, reclaimed Westminster in London.

Scotland’s picture remains steadier. The Scottish National Party (SNP) retained its status as the largest party in Holyrood, although its vote share slipped from the 2021 high. Party leader John Swinney held his Perthshire North seat. The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives lag far behind, while Scottish Labour, despite a 20% national vote, secured few constituency seats. The Greens won two constituency seats thanks to concentrated support.

What It Means Reform UK’s breakthrough suggests a realignment of English local politics, with the party poised to influence council policy on housing, transport and public services. Labour’s Welsh collapse signals a need for strategic overhaul if it hopes to regain a foothold in the Senedd. In Scotland, the SNP’s continued lead, despite reduced vote share, underscores the party’s entrenched position but also hints at growing voter fluidity.

The remaining counts, due through Saturday, could further adjust council control maps. Watch for how Reform UK leverages its new council majority and whether Labour can stem losses ahead of the next general election.