Reform UK Secures 11 Seats in Epping Forest and Takes Essex County Council

TL;DR: Reform UK captured 11 of the 18 seats up for election in Epping Forest District and seized control of Essex County Council, ending Conservative dominance in the area.

Context Local elections on 7 May 2026 covered both district and county councils in Essex. Voters in Epping Forest chose representatives for 18 of the council’s 54 seats, while the county vote determined seven divisions within the same area. Turnout ranged from the high‑40s to low‑50s percent across wards.

Key Facts - Reform UK won 11 of the 18 contested district seats, outpacing the Conservatives, who secured four, and the Independent Loughton Residents Association, which took three. - The party’s victories spanned multiple wards, including Epping East, Loughton Fairmead, North Weald Bassett, Ongar, and several Waltham Abbey divisions. - On the county level, Reform UK claimed six of the seven seats, leaving the Conservatives with a single division. - The district council now stands at 12 Reform UK councillors, 19 Conservatives, 12 Independent Loughton Residents, six Liberal Democrats, two independents, two Epping Forest Independents, and one Labour member, meaning no single party holds a majority. - The county council shift gives Reform UK outright control of Essex County Council for the first time.

What It Means Reform UK’s surge signals a realignment of voter preferences in the Epping Forest area. Controlling the county council grants the party authority over services such as education, transport, and social care across Essex, potentially influencing policy direction for the next four years. At the district level, the fragmented composition forces coalition‑building; Reform UK must negotiate with other groups to advance its agenda.

The results also diminish the Conservative Party’s foothold in a traditionally strong region, reducing its county representation to a single seat and limiting its influence on the district council. Independent and smaller party councillors now hold the balance of power, positioning them as key swing votes.

Looking ahead, observers will watch how Reform UK leverages its new authority on the county council and whether it can forge effective alliances within the divided district council. The party’s performance may serve as a bellwether for upcoming national elections.