
Labour’s Defeat and Reform’s Rise: What the May 2026 Elections Really Show
by Mehmet Demirbaş, published on 9 May 2026
The 2026 elections were not simply a bad night for the governing Labour Party. They were a rejection of the two-party order that has dominated British politics for decades. In England’s local elections, both Labour and the Conservatives suffered heavy losses, while Reform UK became the main political story. Based on the latest reported results, Reform won more than 1,400 council seats and gained control of around 14 councils. Labour fell heavily, losing well over 1,000 seats and control of dozens of councils.