Labour has lost control of Birmingham City Council after 14 years, as Reform UK, the Greens, and pro-Gaza independents made significant gains in the UK's second-largest city. No party has secured an overall majority, reflecting wider political fragmentation across England.
Labour lost hundreds of council seats nationwide, many to Reform UK, which made gains in the Midlands and the north while also taking seats from the Tories in the south. In Birmingham, where all 101 seats were contested, Labour lost over 30 councillors, while Reform gained 21 and the Greens 11. Independents also won 10 seats.
The outgoing Labour leader, John Cotton, acknowledged the party needed to 'listen carefully to the message' of voters and improve communication of its vision. He defended his record, citing difficult decisions to balance finances and tackle long-standing issues like equal pay. Cotton called for unity amid fears that the fragmented council could become ungovernable.
Nosheen Khalid, an independent elected in Alum Rock, said voters had 'had enough' of Labour, blaming the party for the council's bankruptcy and cuts to youth services. She dismissed concerns about ungovernability, stating Birmingham 'has not been effectively governed for a very long time' and that grassroots representatives could improve the situation.
Khalid ruled out working with Reform, which may become the largest party, calling them 'divisive'. She denied allegations of antisemitism or homophobia among pro-Gaza independents, emphasising a focus on child poverty, overcrowding, and lack of youth centres.
