The prime minister faces the toughest test of his premiership so far as the first results from the crucial May local elections across England, Scotland and Wales begin to trickle in.
The party have lost three councils in early results, and while many others have not changed hands outright there were big gains for Reform across England.
Labour is also expected to lose its dominance in the Welsh parliament, the Senedd, for the first time in more than 100 years, with deputy prime minister David Lammy admitting the elections had “been tough” for Labour.
Ballot papers in Scotland and Wales will be counted during the daytime on Friday. In England, 46 of the 136 local authorities holding elections will count and declare overnight.
Sir Keir Starmer thanked voters for their support as speculation mounted over a potential Labour leadership challenge from Andy Burnham, who has withdrawn from a keynote speech expected on Friday morning.
Reform UK is expecting “an extraordinary set of results”, the party’s home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf said, adding: “Keep an eye on those Labour heartlands, in the Red Wall. Those areas, I think, are going to move decisively turquoise.”
Labour lose fourth council as Tameside reverts to no overall controlA big result now as Labour lose control of Tameside in Greater Manchester, a borough which includes former Labour deputy prime minister Angela Rayner’s seat.
That makes it four councils now that have gone from Labour majorities to no overall control.
The party has only held onto a single seat of those contested in Tameside, with the rest declared so far all going to Reform UK.
One former Labour councillor who lost their seat was in tears, telling Sky News the result reflected national, not local, issues.
The former Labour leader of Tameside council told Sky: “I think nationally, as a party, we need to go away and reflect the feelings of the public”.
Asked whether she blamed Sir Keir Starmer for the loss, she said she didn’t “land blame anywhere”, instead calling it a “collective responsibility”.
Adam Withnall8 May 2026 03:54
Polanski says Starmer should ‘listen to the people and go’Green Party leader Zack Polanski said Sir Keir Starmer should “listen to the people and go” after dire early local elections results for Labour.
As the Greens said they felt bullish about their prospects in London boroughs to be counted later on Friday, Mr Polanski said: “These first Green gains confirm what I’ve heard as I criss-crossed England and Wales during the campaign.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski speaks with members of the public as he arrives to cast his vote during the Senedd election in Penarth, Wales (Getty)“Voters are backing the only party taking the cost-of-living crisis seriously. We are the only party with real plans to cut bills, reduce rents and provide genuinely affordable homes.
“I’ve made it clear that we are here not just to be disappointed by Labour, but to replace them. These early results indicate that voters want to see that change too. That is why Keir Starmer has to listen to the people and go.”
He continued: “Of course, many councils are counting throughout Friday, so it will take time for the full scale of the Green successes to become clear.
“However, we are on course for a historic breakthrough in Wales, gaining Green representation in the Senedd in Wales for the first time.
“We are very confident that we will gain many seats in London – and are looking forward results from Newcastle and Bradford through to Sussex.”
Adam Withnall8 May 2026 03:40
Reform gains cross 100 seatsWith full results in from 13 of the 136 councils, Reform UK have gained 103 seats, with Labour losing 80.
The Conservatives have lost 11 seats, independents 22 and Your Party one, with the Greens gaining eight and the Liberal Democrats three.
Adam Withnall8 May 2026 03:37
Recap: Highlights of the election results so farA summary of some of this morning’s highlights:
Labour have lost control of three councils – Hartlepool, Redditch, and TamworthReform won all 12 of the seats on offer in Hartlepool, pushing the formerly Labour-run council into no overall control.Redditch and Tamworth also changed from Labour to no overall control, while the Liberal Democrats took control of Stockport.The first council to complete its count was Halton in Cheshire, which saw Labour lose 15 seats and Reform gain 15. But with only a third of its seats up for grabs, Labour’s large majority in Halton remained.Wigan, represented in Parliament by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, saw Labour lose 20 seats and Reform gain 23, but the authority remains Labour-controlled.From the first 11 councils to declare final results, Labour lost 71 seats and Reform gained 90.After 10 councils had fully declared their results, Labour had won only 17% of the seats it was defending, according to Press Association analysis. At the same point Reform had won 56% of the seats it was contesting.Adam Withnall8 May 2026 03:36
With 10 councils declared, Labour’s win rate is just 17%After 10 councils have fully declared their results, Labour has won only 17% of the seats it was defending, according to Press Association analysis.
Reform has so far won 56% of the seats it was contesting.
In terms of councils changing hands, Labour have lost three to no overall control, while the Lib Dems have gained one council.
Adam Withnall8 May 2026 03:32
Lib Dems ‘hold off rise of Reform’ in StockportResponding to the Liberal Democrats taking Stockport council, which was previously under no overall control, a party spokesperson said: “This is a great result and shows that Liberal Democrat teams can win right across the country.
“Our hardworking local team has held off the rise of Reform – while others sought to sow division and chaos, we focused on the issues that matter.”
Adam Withnall8 May 2026 03:17
Nigel Farage says Reform sweep exceeding all his expectationsA jubilant Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told reporters at the party’s Millbank headquarters: “I think what you’re witnessing is an historic change in British politics. Forget left-right, there is no more left-right. It is gone, it is out of the window, it’s finished.
Nigel Farage enjoys an ice-cream after casting his vote at a polling station in Walton on the Naze on Thursday (AP)“As you can see, we are scoring stunning percentages in traditional old Labour areas.
“We’re currently averaging about 39% of the vote, of the seats that are in already, we’re currently on 145 seats won.
“We are way exceeding anything that I thought.”
When speaking about his predictions later Friday, he said: “What you’ll see tomorrow is the same pattern repeated across the south when we win Essex by an extraordinary margin and Norfolk by an extraordinary margin.”
Adam Withnall8 May 2026 03:14
Huge losses for Labour in Wigan – but they retain control of councilLabour lost 20 councillors in Wigan as Reform UK won all but one of the seats available.
Although Labour retains control of the council, represented in Parliament by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, it does so with a much-reduced majority.
Reform won 24 seats on the authority, bringing its total to 25, with an Independent candidate picking up the remaining seat on offer.
The Conservatives lost their one remaining seat in Wigan.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy, seen here after leading Downing St on 5 May (PA)Adam Withnall8 May 2026 03:06
Reform say they are ‘penetrating Red Wall’Reform UK claimed that Labour voters “are switching directly” to Nigel Farage’s outfit.
As Reform surges in early local election results, the party said on X: “It’s clear that Labour voters are switching directly to Reform.
“We are penetrating the red wall in a way the pollsters and experts simply didn’t predict.
“Britain wants Reform.”
Adam Withnall8 May 2026 03:03
Breaking: Lib Dems win first council of night in StockportThe Lib Dems have gained control of Stockport, making it their first Greater Manchester council in 15 years.
Stockport had been a key target for the Lib Dems. The council was previously under no overall control, with Sir Ed Davey’s party just short of a majority.
The party have taken two seats, bringing them up to the 32 needed for a majority. Labour are again the biggest losers here, forfeiting control of five seats.
Adam Withnall8 May 2026 02:59
