The final results from the local elections in England have been announced, with Birmingham City Council concluding its vote count on Monday evening. Counting took more than 72 hours after polling stations closed. Here, we examine how each party performed and compare the figures with previous elections.
Seats Won and Lost
Each year, a different number of council seats are contested across various local authorities, making direct comparisons of seat gains and losses potentially misleading. This year, Labour suffered a net loss of 1,229 seats it held before the elections, far exceeding the 198-seat loss in 2025. However, only 1,641 seats were contested in 2025 compared to 5,047 this year. The Conservatives lost 433 seats net, fewer than the 635 lost last year. Reform UK achieved a net gain of 1,372 seats, up from 648 in 2025.
Seats Successfully Defended
To account for varying numbers of seats, examining percentages offers clearer insight. Labour defended 2,297 seats and lost 54% of them, while the Tories defended 1,234 and lost 35%. These percentages are lower than in 2025, when both parties lost 67% of defended seats. Despite improvement, Labour lost over half its seats for the second consecutive year, a feat not seen during its previous tenure in government (1997–2010). The Conservatives' worst local election performance while in government (2010–2024) was in 2024, losing 44% of defended seats.
Candidates' Success Rates
While Labour and the Conservatives saw net losses, the Liberal Democrats, Reform, and the Greens made net gains. Reform fielded 4,789 candidates, with 30% (1,454) winning seats—down from 42% in 2025. The Greens saw 13% of their 4,478 candidates win (587 seats), nearly double the 7% rate in 2025. The Liberal Democrats contested 3,942 seats, winning 21% (844), down from 27% last year.
Regional Variation
Performance varied starkly between London and the rest of England. Labour lost 33% of its London council seats but 70% outside the capital. The Conservatives lost 54% of seats outside London but gained 6% in London. The Lib Dems, Reform, and Greens increased councillor numbers in both regions, but with differing success. Reform won only 5% of contested seats in London versus 43% elsewhere. The Greens won 19% in London compared to 10% outside, while the Lib Dems won 16% in London and 25% elsewhere. Labour and the Conservatives together won 61% of London seats—the lowest combined share since 1964—and just 24% across the rest of England.
