The claim
“Labour lost nearly 1,500 councillors in the recent English local elections as Reform UK gained support and the Greens increased their share in London and other urban areas.”
Our verdict
Mostly True
Multiple reputable UK news outlets report that Labour lost over 1,200‑1,300 council seats in the English local elections, with Reform UK gaining roughly 1,300 seats and the Greens making gains in London and other cities.
What we found
The figure “nearly 1,500” is a slight over‑estimate but aligns with the overall scale of loss.
The evidence
3 sources, all background: none settles the claim either way.
- Background
Sky reports Labour down over 1,200 seats and Reform UK gaining over 1,300 council seats, with losses concentrated in urban areas where Greens made gains.
news.sky.com· Sky election results map - Background
The Guardian notes Labour’s heavy losses across England, attributing many to Reform UK on the right and the Greens on the left, especially in London and other cities.
theguardian.com· The Guardian interactive map - Background
The New York Times describes a “significant gain” for Reform UK and large Labour losses in the local elections.
nytimes.com· NYTimes live election coverage
How we checked
We reviewed 3 relevant sources.
Have evidence we missed?
If you know of a source that confirms or contradicts this claim, send us the link. We review every submission and update fact checks when new evidence changes the picture.
Measured Take updates fact checks when new evidence emerges. Corrections are noted on the page.
All fact checks