Are Reform a bigger threat to Labour or the Conservatives? Here's what local election results tell us
Sky News analysis reveals Reform UK gained 1,453 council seats in May’s local elections, primarily at the expense of the Conservatives, who lost 563 seats, while Labour suffered the heaviest losses with 1,498 fewer seats than before. The data suggests Reform’s growth disproportionately impacts the Tories, while Labour’s vote share collapsed by 21 points nationally, with Greens also siphoning off significant support.
Reform UK emerged as the biggest winner in May’s local elections across England, securing 1,453 net gains in council seats, according to Sky News analysis. While the party took the most seats from Labour—798 compared to 471 from the Conservatives—its impact was more severe on the Tories, who lost 563 seats overall. Over two-thirds of Conservative losses went to Reform, particularly in shire counties like Norfolk, where the party lost 36 of its 60 defended seats. Labour faced the steepest decline, losing 60% of its contested seats and ending with 1,498 fewer seats than before the election. The party’s vote share dropped by 21 points nationwide, signaling a broad collapse in support. Reform’s gains were strongest in areas where it won, with average vote share increases of 22 percentage points, while the Conservatives saw declines exceeding 15 points in those same wards. The Greens also made gains, winning 440 seats, primarily from Labour, and increasing their vote share in areas where they or Labour won. This suggests former Labour voters shifted to the Greens, even as Reform took more seats directly from Labour. The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, secured 152 additional seats, continuing an eighth consecutive year of gains. Overall, the elections highlighted a fragmentation of British politics, with Labour and the Conservatives losing three in five of their defended seats combined. Reform’s rise appears to be reshaping the political landscape, posing a greater immediate threat to the Conservatives while Labour struggles with declining voter support across the country.
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