Local elections in England have seen Labour lose more than a thousand councillors and control of dozens of councils, with Reform UK making seismic gains in traditional Labour strongholds. The party lost control of at least 35 councils and 1,442 councillors lost their seats, including in historically safe areas such as the 'red wall'.
In Sunderland, Labour's majority since 1974 was wiped out as Reform UK won 58 seats, reducing Labour to just five. The Liberal Democrats took 12, pushing Labour into third place. Nigel Farage hailed the result as a significant win, saying: 'We are on the verge of winning Wakefield outright, we've just had Sunderland declared for us.'
St Helens became the first part of Merseyside's red stronghold to fall to Reform UK, which gained 31 seats as Labour lost 25. Labour had controlled the council since 2010, but now has just two representatives. Farage declared: 'We have absolutely torn the most massive historic chunk out of the Labour vote in the north of England.'
The Conservatives also suffered heavy losses, losing Essex County Council to Reform UK for the first time since 2001. Reform gained 53 seats, while the Tories lost 41 and were left with 13. Farage said Reform had 'crushed the blue wall as well'.
The Green Party delivered a double blow to Labour in Hackney, winning the mayoral election and taking control of the council. Labour lost 34 seats, holding just nine. Green mayor Zoe Garbett said: 'People feel let down with the old establishment parties.'
Pollster John Curtis said the results confirmed that electoral politics in England was highly fragmented, signalling an end to the traditional two-party system. Labour also lost control of Bradford, Barnsley, Calderdale, Wakefield, and Leeds, while nine London councils were left with no overall control.
