What's happened
Local elections across 136 councils are underway in England, Wales and Scotland. Labour faces losses; Reform UK, Greens and Lib Dems are set to gain in different areas. Voters are deciding on council seats and mayoralties, with results expected this weekend and broader implications for national politics.
What's behind the headline?
Key takeaways
- Labour is defending a large share of seats but faces notable pressure in urban areas; this is shaping expectations for national leadership dynamics.
- Reform UK, Greens and Lib Dems are poised to gain seats in various regions, indicating a broader multiparty shift.
- The electoral systems vary by region (FPTP in England’s local councils, mixed systems in Scotland and Wales), which could yield a wide range of seat outcomes and complicate seat-by-seat interpretation.
What this means for readers
- Local outcomes will affect service delivery and local policy—budget allocations, waste collection, planning, and social care.
- They serve as a barometer for national party performance ahead of future elections, influencing leadership calculations across parties.
Forecast
- Expect a spectrum of results with some councils flipping control, others remaining solidly partisan, and regional trends likely to shape party strategies in the months ahead.
How we got here
Voters are casting ballots in England, Wales and Scotland across 136 local authorities, with more than 5,000 seats contested. This follows a recent pattern of multiple parties contesting and a shift away from the traditional Labour–Conservative dichotomy. Polls anticipate mixed results, reflecting local issues and national sentiment.
Our analysis
The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Independent (May 6, 2026) provide a unified view of the scale of local elections, party contenders and the potential implications for national politics.
Go deeper
- Which parties are projected to gain seats in your area?
- How might local results influence national party strategies in the coming months?
- When will final results be announced for your council?
More on these topics
-
Keir Starmer - Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom
Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
-
Reform UK - Political party
Reform UK is a populist political party in the United Kingdom. It was founded as The Brexit Party with a focus on Euroscepticism in November 2018, until being renamed on 6 January 2021.
-
Liberal Democrat - Political party
Liberal Democrats may refer to: supporters of liberal democracy Liberal Democrats (UK), a political party in the United Kingdom Liberal Democratic Party (Australia), a political party in Australia, also known as Liberal Democrats left-liberals or social.
-
Conservative Party - Political party
The Conservative Party, officially the Conservative and Unionist Party, and also known colloquially as the Tories, Tory Party, or simply the Conservatives, is a political party in the United Kingdom.