Local elections 2026: Labour to lose 75% of council seats, polling guru predicts
Lord Hayward predicts Labour will lose 75% of council seats in the 2026 local elections, with 1,850 councillors lost, while Reform UK is expected to gain 1,550 seats. The Green Party is expected to be the main beneficiary in London, gaining 500 seats.
Labour is predicted to lose 75% of its council seats in the 2026 local elections, according to Lord Hayward, with 1,850 councillors lost. The elections will take place on May 7, with voters electing local authority representatives across England, including in London, as well as parliamentary representatives in Wales and Scotland. Lord Hayward described the prediction as 'bad news' for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who is already facing challenges due to scandals and low popularity. The Conservatives are also expected to lose seats, with 600 predicted losses. The Green Party is expected to gain 500 seats, mainly in London, while Reform UK will gain 1,550 seats, largely in white working-class areas outside of London. In Wales, Plaid Cymru is predicted to become the largest party in the Senedd, ending Labour's 26-year dominance.
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