2025 United Kingdom local elections#RFC on table in infobox
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2025 United Kingdom local elections
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| party_colour =
| previous_election = 2024 United Kingdom local elections
| previous_year = 2024
| next_election = 2026 United Kingdom local elections
| next_year = 2026
| seats_for_election = 1,641 council seats
23 county, unitary, and metropolitan councils
6 directly elected mayors
2 sui generis authorities
| election_date = 1 May 2025
| 1blank = Projected vote share{{efn|name=VoteShare|All vote shares in the infobox are projected national vote shares calculated by the BBC.}}
| 2blank = Seats won (2025){{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c39jedewxp8t|title=BBC 2025 Local Elections results|date=2 May 2025|work=BBC}}
| 3blank = Councillors (after){{cite news|url=https://opencouncildata.co.uk/|title=Open Council Data UK|date=10 May 2025|work=Open Council Data}}
| 4blank = Net change (notional)
| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Official portrait of Nigel Farage MP crop 2.jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader1 = Nigel Farage
| party1 = Reform UK
| leader_since1 = 3 June 2024
| last_election1 =
| seats_before1 = 128 seats
0 councils
| seats_after1 =
| 1data1 = 30%
{{increase}} 28 pp
| 2data1 = 677 seats
10 councils
| 3data1 = 804 seats
10 councils
| 4data1 = {{increase}} 678
{{increase}} 10 councils
| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Official portrait of Ed Davey MP crop 3, 2024.jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader2 = Ed Davey
| party2 = Liberal Democrats (UK)
| leader_since2 = 27 August 2020{{efn|name=Davey|Davey served as Acting Leader from 13 December 2019 to 27 August 2020 alongside the Party Presidents Baroness Brinton and Mark Pack, following Jo Swinson's election defeat in the 2019 general election. Davey was elected Leader in August 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/aug/27/ed-davey-elected-liberal-democrat-leader|title='Wake up and smell the coffee': Ed Davey elected Lib Dem leader|last=Stewart|first=Heather|date=27 August 2020|work=The Guardian}}}}
| last_election2 =
| seats_after2 =
| seats_before2 = 3,009 seats
37 councils
| 1data2 = 17%
{{same}}
| 2data2 = 370 seats
3 councils
| 3data2 = 3,197 seats
40 councils
| 4data2 = {{increase}} 163
{{increase}} 3 councils
| 5data2 =
| image3 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Official portrait of Kemi Badenoch MP crop 3, 2024 (cropped).jpg|bSize = 121|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader3 = Kemi Badenoch
| party3 = Conservative Party (UK)
| leader_since3 = 2 November 2024
| last_election3 =
| seats_after3 =
| seats_before3 = 5,034 seats{{cite web |url=https://opencouncildata.co.uk/councillors2.php?y=0 |title=Councillors Breakdown by Party Latest |publisher=Open Council Data |access-date=14 April 2025}}
49 councils
| 1data3 = 15%
{{decrease}} 10 pp
| 2data3 = 319 seats
0 councils
| 3data3 = 4,403 seats
33 councils
| 4data3 = {{decrease}} 676
{{decrease}} 16 councils
| image4 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Official Portrait (cropped).jpg|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader4 = Keir Starmer
| party4 = Labour Party (UK)
| leader_since4 = 4 April 2020
| last_election4 =
| seats_before4 = 6,322 seats
108 councils
| seats_after4 =
| 1data4 = 20%
{{decrease}} 14 pp
| 2data4 = 98 seats
0 councils
| 3data4 = 6,124 seats
107 councils
| 4data4 = {{decrease}} 187
{{decrease}} 1 council
| 5data4 =
| 6data4 =
| image5 = {{CSS image crop|Image =Denyer and Ramsay official portraits (2024).png|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| leader5 = Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay
| party5 = Green Party of England and Wales
| leader_since5 = 1 October 2021
| last_election5 =
| seats_before5 = 850 seats
1 council
| seats_after5 =
| 1data5 = 11%
{{decrease}} 2 pp
| 2data5 = 79 seats
0 councils
| 3data5 = 895 seats
1 council
| 4data5 = {{increase}} 44
{{nochange}} 0 councils
| 5data5 =
| 6data5 =
| country = United Kingdom
| map = {{Switcher
| 350px
| Map of council control
| 350px
| Map of mayoral control
}}
{{legend|#12b6cf|Reform UK}}
{{legend|#faa61a|Liberal Democrats}}
{{legend|#e4003b|Labour Party}}
{{legend|#0087dc|Conservative Party}}
{{legend|#000000|No overall control}}
}}
The 2025 United Kingdom local elections were held on 1 May 2025 for 1,641 council seats across 24 local authorities.{{Cite web |title=Election timetable in England |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/election-timetable-in-england/election-timetable-in-england |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg5dpl1j4zo|title=Badenoch warns Tories of difficult local elections|date=20 March 2025|publisher=BBC News}} All seats on 14 county councils and eight unitary authorities in England were up for election. They were the first local elections to follow the 2024 general election.{{Cite web |title=Some local elections could be delayed by up to a year, says Angela Rayner |url=https://news.sky.com/story/some-local-elections-could-be-held-off-next-year-under-devolution-plans-minister-suggests-13274768 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=Sky News |language=en}} Most of these seats were last contested at the 2021 local elections.
There were also six mayoral elections, including the inaugural election for the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, and the inaugural election for the mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire. The 2025 Runcorn and Helsby by-election was also held on 1 May.{{Cite news |date=27 March 2025 |title=Runcorn by-election confirmed for 1 May |url=https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-live-reeves-spring-statement-welfare-defence-cuts-starmer-economy-12593360?postid=9344668#liveblog-body |access-date=27 March 2025 |work=Sky News}} In addition, elections for the Council of the Isles of Scilly were held. The City of London Corporation held elections on 19 and 20 March.{{cite book |title=Wardmote Book |date=2022 |publisher=City of London |pages=2, 76 |url=https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/assets/about-us/voting-elections/wardmote-book-september-2022.pdf |access-date=18 September 2024}}
The elections were described as a sweeping victory for Reform UK. The party placed first, winning the most seats and took control of a number of local authorities.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-02 |title=Sir John Curtice: Reform's sweeping election wins shake Tory and Labour dominance |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqj4k2l20xlo |access-date=2025-05-02 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB}} The governing Labour Party and opposition Conservative Party suffered historic losses. This was the first time that Labour finished fourth in a local election; it was the first set of elections under the premiership of Keir Starmer.{{Cite news |last=Dearden |first=Lizzie |date=2025-05-02 |title=Reform UK Surges as Conservatives Lose Seats: 4 Local Elections Takeaways |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/world/europe/uk-local-elections-results-reform-labour-conservative.html |access-date=2025-05-02 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} There were major gains for the Liberal Democrats who won three new councils and won more seats than the Conservatives for the second local election in a row.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-02 |title=Lib Dems take two councils after winning Conservative votes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/creqr4x18leo |access-date=2025-05-02 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
Some elections originally scheduled for 2025 have been delayed by up to a year while reorganisation takes place. The government announced that elections to nine councils would not take place in 2025 to allow restructuring, with elections to reformed or newly created replacement authorities taking place in 2026.
Background
= Significance of these elections =
These elections were the first local elections to follow the general election held on 4 July 2024 which resulted in a landslide victory for the Labour Party. The combined vote share for Labour and the Conservatives reached a record low, with smaller parties doing well. Labour returned to being the largest party in Scotland and remained so in Wales. The election was noted as the most disproportionate in modern British history (i.e. Labour won 63% of seats with 34% of the vote),{{cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Michael |title=Election Indices |url=https://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/about/people/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/ElectionIndices.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240729233608/https://www.tcd.ie/Political_Science/about/people/michael_gallagher/ElSystems/Docts/ElectionIndices.pdf |archive-date=29 July 2024 |access-date=29 July 2024}} mainly as a result of the first-past-the-post voting system.{{Cite web |last=Surridge |first=Paula |author-link=Paula Surridge |date=5 July 2024 |title=Labour wins big but the UK's electoral system is creaking |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/labour-wins-big-uk-electoral-system-creaking |access-date=5 July 2024 |work=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |last=Curtice |first=John |author-link=John Curtice |date=5 July 2024 |title=Labour's strength in Commons is heavily exaggerated |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/john-curtice-general-election-labour-victory-results-7cpgvbrcs |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=The Times}}{{Cite web |last=Topping |first=Alexandra |date=8 July 2024 |title='Disproportionate' UK election results boost calls to ditch first past the post |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/08/disproportionate-uk-election-results-boost-calls-to-ditch-first-past-the-post |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |last1=Chu |first1=Ben |date=5 July 2024 |title=Biggest-ever gap between number of votes and MPs hits Reform and Greens |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c886pl6ldy9o |access-date=8 July 2024 |publisher=BBC News}}
Keir Starmer won a landslide victory at the general election and became prime minister, but with the smallest share of the electoral vote of any majority government since record-keeping of the popular vote began in 1830. By the end of 2024, opinion polling for the Labour Party and Starmer's personal approval ratings had dropped significantly following several controversies including those regarding the abolition of Winter Fuel Payments and alleged trading of gifts for political influence, as well as a series of far-right anti-immigration riots fueled by the perception that his government mishandled its response to the 2024 Southport stabbings, protests by farmers over a proposed new inheritance tax on their farms, and continued government support for Israel in the Gaza war. These controversies culminated in an online petition in November 2024 calling for an early general election reaching over 2 million signatures within 2 days.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Keir Starmer: I'm not surprised some want general election re-run |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly2r4g98gjo |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Starmer rules out another general election after petition reaches two million signatures |url=https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-rules-out-another-general-election-after-petition-reaches-two-million-signatures-13260436 |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Sky News |language=en}}
On 2 November 2024, Kemi Badenoch won the 2024 Conservative leadership election to succeed Rishi Sunak as leader of the opposition.{{Cite web |last=Picheta |first=Rob |date=2024-11-02 |title=Kemi Badenoch wins Conservative leadership contest, pitching party to the right after blowout UK election loss |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/02/uk/uk-conservative-leadership-contest-results-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-11-02 |publisher=CNN |language=en}} In a December 2024 interview, Badenoch said the public "kicked out" the Conservative Party because it was not trusted and did not deliver; she dismissed concerns that her approach of not having specific policy positions would leave a vacuum that could be filled by Reform UK; and she acknowledged the 2025 local elections would be difficult for her party.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0lg964le26o|title=Kemi Badenoch says there is no 'quick fix' for Conservative Party|date=23 December 2024|publisher=BBC News}} Nigel Farage's party Reform UK placed third in the share of the vote in the 2024 election and had MPs elected to the Commons for the first time.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=Nigel Farage storms the UK parliament. |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/nigel-farage-reform-uk-storms-parliament-cue-the-jaws-music/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Politico |language=en-GB}} Farage and his party Reform UK did well in opinion polls at the expense of both Labour and the Conservatives.
Following the publication of the English Devolution White Paper on 16 December 2024, which set out the Labour government's plans for local government reorganisation, some of the elections scheduled for May 2025 will be delayed by up to a year while reorganisation takes place.{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/some-local-elections-could-be-held-off-next-year-under-devolution-plans-minister-suggests-13274768|title=Some local elections could be delayed by up to a year, says Angela Rayner|work=Sky News|date=16 December 2024|access-date=19 December 2024}} County councils and unitary authorities had until 10 January 2025 to request to join the Government's Devolution Priority Programme and ask the Government to cancel or postpone their regularly scheduled elections.{{cite news|url=https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/governance-and-structure/counties-given-extraordinary-deadline-to-cancel-elections-17-12-2024/|title=Counties given 'extraordinary' deadline to cancel elections|work=Local Government Chronicle|date=17 December 2024|access-date=19 December 2024}} At least 13 of the 21 county councils asked the government to delay their elections.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jan/10/tory-party-conservatives-may-county-council-elections-delay|title=Tory party accused of 'bottling' May elections as county councils seek delay|date=10 January 2025|access-date=12 January 2025|work=The Guardian}} On 5 February 2025, the government announced that elections to nine councils (seven county councils and two unitary authorities) would not take place in 2025 to allow restructuring to take place, with elections to reformed or newly created replacement authorities taking place in 2026.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9qjdex1ed8o|title=Council shake-up sees elections delayed in nine areas|date=5 February 2025|access-date=5 February 2025|publisher=BBC News|first=Kate|last=Whannel}}
These were the third set of local elections held under the Elections Act 2022, a controversial voter identification law that requires{{Cite news |last=Kerslake |first=Bob |date=6 April 2022 |title=With all eyes on Ukraine, the UK is quietly set to disenfranchise 2 million citizens |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/06/elections-bill-anti-democratic-lords-challenge-voters |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |date=5 May 2023 |title=Local elections 2023: Voters express anger at ID rule changes |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65492275 |access-date=8 September 2023 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB}} voters to show photo ID when attending a polling station. This act also meant that the elections for directly-elected mayors would use the first-past-the-post voting system rather than the previously used supplementary vote system.
Campaign
File:2025 United Kingdom local elections.svg
| class="floatright plainrowheaders wikitable"
|+ Aggregate seats contested by party{{cite tweet |title=LE2025 Total Number of Candidates |author=Election Maps UK |user=ElectionMapsUK |number=1908198528045707406 |access-date=5 April 2025 |language=en}} |
| scope="col" | Party
! scope="col" | Seats |
|---|
| scope="row" | Reform UK
| {{Composition bar|1624|1641|{{party color|Reform UK}}|width=100%|per=1}} |
| scope="row" | Conservative
| {{Composition bar|1595|1641|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|width=100%|per=1}} |
| scope="row" | Labour
| {{Composition bar|1536|1641|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|width=100%|per=1}} |
| scope="row" | Liberal Democrats
| {{Composition bar|1395|1641|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|width=100%|per=1}} |
| scope="row" | Green
| {{Composition bar|1202|1641|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|width=100%|per=1}} |
= Liberal Democrats =
Ed Davey launched the Liberal Democrats' campaign on 17 March in Great Missenden.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-17 |title=Lib Dems launch election campaign in Buckinghamshire |url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/24999957.liberal-democrats-outline-local-election-plans-bucks/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Bucks Free Press |language=en}} On 20 March the party's spring conference began in Harrogate.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=Harrogate to host Lib Dem Spring Conference for first time since 2009 this weekend |url=https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/people/harrogate-to-host-lib-dem-spring-conference-for-first-time-since-2009-this-weekend-5042637 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Harrogate Advertiser |language=en}}
Davey said he wanted to replace the Conservatives as the "party of Middle England".{{Cite web |date=2025-03-31 |title=Lib Dems aim to become 'party of Middle England', says Ed Davey |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxn6x39qyxo |access-date=2025-03-31 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
= Conservative =
Kemi Badenoch launched the Conservative Party's campaign on 20 March at an event in Buckinghamshire.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=Badenoch warns Tories of difficult local elections |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg5dpl1j4zo |access-date=2025-03-22 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB}} She warned activists of an "extremely difficult" challenge,{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=Tories facing 'extremely difficult' local elections, Badenoch warns |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/kemi-badenoch-reform-uk-tories-labour-england-b2718647.html |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=The Independent |language=en}} and promised to bring "lower taxes and better services."{{Cite web |date=2025-03-20 |title=Kemi Badenoch Keeps Expectations Exceptionally Low With Bleak Forecast At Tory Local Election Launch |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/kemi-badenoch-sets-bleak-forecast-at-tory-local-election-launch_uk_67dc021de4b04be40e52e2db |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en}}
Badenoch suggested that Conservative Party councillors could form coalitions with Reform UK councillors, but Farage turned this suggestion down.{{cite news |last=Seddon |first=Paul |date=10 April 2025 |title=Nigel Farage rejects local Reform UK-Tory coalitions |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07883y07nko |publisher=BBC News |access-date=11 April 2025}}
= Reform UK =
Nigel Farage launched the Reform UK campaign at an event on 28 March at Arena Birmingham.{{Cite web |last=Brassington |first=Jamie |date=2025-02-03 |title=Nigel Farage announces 'biggest ever' rally in Birmingham amid new poll |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/nigel-farage-announces-biggest-ever-30926200 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Birmingham Live |language=en}} Reform contested nearly all the council seats and the six mayoral elections.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-28 |title=Reform UK launches 'most ambitious' local election campaign |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62z28n5nxeo |access-date=2025-03-31 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
= Labour =
Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched the Labour Party campaign on 3 April at an event in Derbyshire.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-03 |title=Labour launches local election campaign with promise of 'change' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8e721rz5go |access-date=2025-04-03 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
= Green =
Carla Denyer launched the Green Party campaign on 8 April in Warwickshire.{{cite news |date=8 April 2025 |title=Green Party launch local election campaign, promising 'record-breaking' gains |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2025-04-08/green-party-launch-local-election-campaign-promising-record-breaking-gains |work=ITV News |access-date=9 April 2025}}{{cite web |date=8 April 2025 |title=Green Party to appeal to disillusioned voters as they head for "record breaking" local election results |url=https://greenparty.org.uk/2025/04/08/green-party-to-appeal-to-disillusioned-voters-as-they-head-for-record-breaking-local-election-results/ |publisher=Green Party of England and Wales |access-date=9 April 2025}}
Results
= Overall =
The table below shows the results of these elections, along with the overall number of councillors in Great Britain for each party following the elections.
| id="results" class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right; font-size:95%;" |
| colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:140px;"| Party
! colspan="3" | Councillors ! colspan="4" | Councils |
|---|
| style="width:50px;"| Won
! style="width:50px;"|After ! style="width:50px;"|+/−{{efn|name=Change|Because the number of council seats shifts every year due to boundary changes and local government reorganisation, changes are notional changes calculated by the BBC.}} ! style="width:50px;"|Won ! style="width:50px;"|After ! style="width:50px;"|+/− |
| {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}}
|677 |804 |{{Increase}} 677 |10 |10 |{{increase}} 10 |
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|370 |3,197 |{{Increase}} 163 |3 |40 |{{increase}} 3 |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|317 |4,403 |{{Decrease}} 676 |0 |33 |{{decrease}} 16 |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|98 |6,124 |{{Decrease}} 187 |0 |107 |{{decrease}} 1 |
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}
|79 |895 |{{Increase}} 44 |0 |1 |{{nochange}} |
| {{Party name with colour|Scottish National Party}}
| colspan=1 {{n/a}}{{efn|name=Scotland|There were no local elections in Scotland in 2025.}} | 418 | {{nochange}} | colspan=1 {{n/a}}{{efn|name=Scotland|There were no local elections in Scotland in 2025.}} | 1 | {{nochange}} |
| {{Party name with colour|Plaid Cymru}}
| colspan=1 {{n/a}}{{efn|name=Wales |There were no local elections in Wales in 2025.}} | 201 | {{nochange}} | colspan=1 {{n/a}}{{efn|name=Wales |There were no local elections in Wales in 2025.}} | 3 | {{nochange}} |
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
| 94 |2,546 |{{Decrease}} 23 |0 |11 |{{nochange}} |
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}}
| colspan=3 {{n/a}} |10 |162 |{{increase}} 4 |
| colspan="2" style="background:#f2f2f2 " | Total
! style="background:#f2f2f2;" | 1,635 ! style="background:#f2f2f2;" | 18,596 ! style="background:#f2f2f2;" | — ! style="background:#f2f2f2;" | 23 ! style="background:#f2f2f2;" | 368 ! style="background:#f2f2f2;" | — |
= County councils =
There are 21 county councils in England. All of them hold whole-council elections on a four-year cycle that includes 2025. However, 7 county councils (Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex and Hampshire) had their elections postponed due to local government reorganisation. A total of 16 county councils applied for their elections to be postponed, though 9 (Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire) had this request rejected and their elections went ahead as planned, as these places were not part of the Devolution Priority Programme.{{Cite web |title=Local government reorganisation: letter to two-tier areas |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-letter-to-two-tier-areas |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| rowspan="2" | Council
! rowspan="2" | Seats ! colspan="4" | Party control ! rowspan="2" | Details |
|---|
| colspan="2" | Previous
! colspan="2" | Result |
| Cambridgeshire
| 61 | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Lib Dem-Lab-Ind coalition) | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} |
| Derbyshire{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 64 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} |
| Devon
| 60 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Lib Dem-Green coalition) |
| Gloucestershire{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 55 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Lib Dem minority) |
| Hertfordshire
| 78 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Lib Dem minority) |
| Kent
| 81 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} |
| Lancashire
| 84 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} |
| Leicestershire
| 55 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Reform UK minority) |
| Lincolnshire
| 70 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} |
| Nottinghamshire
| 66 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} |
| Oxfordshire{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 69 | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Lib Dem-Lab-Grn coalition) | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} |
| Staffordshire{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 62 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} |
| Warwickshire
| 57 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Reform UK minority) |
| Worcestershire{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 57 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Reform UK minority) |
= Metropolitan boroughs =
Most metropolitan boroughs are elected by thirds across three years, with a fourth fallow year, which fell in 2025. However, City of Doncaster Council has been elected as a whole every four years from 2017, to coincide with the election of the Mayor of Doncaster.
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| rowspan="2" | Council
! rowspan="2" | Seats ! colspan="4" | Party control ! rowspan="2" | Details |
|---|
| colspan="2" | Previous
! colspan="2" | Result |
| Doncaster
| 55 | {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} |
= Unitary authorities =
There are 62 unitary authorities, which are single-tier local authorities. Ten of them were due to hold whole-council elections on a four-year cycle that includes 2025. However, Isle of Wight and Thurrock had their elections cancelled due to local government reorganisation. Owing to boundary changes, several authorities saw a significant reduction in the number of councillors elected: Buckinghamshire reduced from 147 to 97, Durham went from 126 to 98 and West Northamptonshire elected 76 instead of 93.
| class="wikitable sortable"
! rowspan="2" | Council ! rowspan="2" | Seats ! colspan="4" | Party control ! rowspan="2" | Details |
| colspan="2" | Previous
! colspan="2" | Result |
|---|
| Buckinghamshire{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 97 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Con minority) |
| Cornwall
| 87 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Lib Dem-Ind coalition) |
| County Durham{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 98 | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Lib Dem-Con-Ind-North East Party coalition) | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} |
| North Northamptonshire{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 68 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} |
| Northumberland{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 69 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Con minority) |
| Shropshire{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 74 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} |
| West Northamptonshire{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 76 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} |
| Wiltshire
| 98 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} (Lib Dem-Ind coalition) |
= Combined authority mayors =
| class="wikitable" border="1"
! Combined authority ! colspan="2" | Mayor before ! colspan="2" | Mayor after ! Details |
| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
| {{party color cell|Labour Party (UK)}} | Nik Johnson (Labour) | {{party color cell|Conservative Party (UK)}} | Paul Bristow (Conservative) gain | Details |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | West of England
| {{party color cell|Independent politician}} | Dan Norris (Independent, elected as Labour){{cite news|url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/dan-norris-banned-parliament-weca-10095323|title=Dan Norris banned from Parliament and WECA offices|last=Wimperis|first=John|date=10 April 2025|work=Somerset Live}} | {{party color cell|Labour Party (UK)}} | Helen Godwin (Labour) hold | Details |
| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Greater Lincolnshire
| colspan="2" | None, inaugural election | {{party color cell|Reform UK}} | Andrea Jenkyns (Reform UK) new | Details |
| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Hull and East Yorkshire
| colspan="2" | None, inaugural election | {{party color cell|Reform UK}} | Luke Campbell (Reform UK) new | Details |
=Single-authority mayors=
| class="wikitable" border="1"
! scope="col" | Local Authority ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Previous Mayor ! scope="col" colspan="2" | Mayor-elect ! scope="col" | Details |
| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | Doncaster
| {{party color cell|Labour Party (UK)}} | {{party color cell|Labour Party (UK)}} | Details |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | North Tyneside
| {{party color cell|Labour Party (UK)}} | Norma Redfearn (Labour) | {{party color cell|Labour Party (UK)}} | Karen Clark (Labour) hold | Details |
= City of London Corporation =
The City of London Corporation held its elections on 20 March.
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" | Council ! rowspan="2" | Seats ! colspan="4" | Party control ! rowspan="2" | Details |
| colspan="2" | Previous
! colspan="2" | Result |
|---|
| City of London
| 100 | {{Party name with colour|Independent}} | {{Party name with colour|Independent}} |
= Isles of Scilly =
Fifteen of the sixteen seats on the Isles of Scilly were returned uncontested at the close of nominations, with only the island of St Martin's holding a poll on 1 May.{{cite web|url=https://www.scilly.gov.uk/news/statements-persons-nominated-issued-council-election|title=Statements of Persons Nominated issued for Council election|publisher=Council of the Isles of Scilly|date=2 April 2025|access-date=2 April 2025}}
| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" | Council ! rowspan="2" | Seats ! colspan="4" | Party control ! rowspan="2" | Details |
| colspan="2" | Previous
! colspan="2" | Result |
|---|
| Isles of Scilly
|16 |{{Party name with colour|Independent}} |{{Party name with colour|Independent}} |
= Elections delayed to 2026 =
These elections were originally scheduled to be held in 2025, but on 5 February 2025 it was announced that they would be delayed by a year to 2026 to allow for reorganisation of local government structure. The relevant legislation had to pass the House of Lords, where some peers tried to prevent this happening.{{Cite web |last=Calkin |first=Sarah |date=2025-03-14 |title=Peers bid to block elections postponement |url=https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/devolution-and-economic-growth/peers-bid-to-block-elections-postponement-14-03-2025/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Local Government Chronicle (LGC) |language=en}} A fatal motion, tabled by Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Pinnock, which would have prevented the postponement, was defeated by 63 votes to 163.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/liberal-democrats-keir-starmer-government-green-party-england-b2720795.html | title=Bid to reverse postponement of local elections defeated in the Lords | last=James | first=Rhiannon | date=2025-03-24 | website=The Independent | access-date=2025-04-19 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250325161006/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/liberal-democrats-keir-starmer-government-green-party-england-b2720795.html | archive-date=2025-03-25}}
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Council
! Seats ! colspan="2" | Party control |
|---|
| East Sussex
| 50 | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} |
| Essex{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 78 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} |
| Hampshire
| 78 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} |
| Norfolk{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 84 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} |
| Surrey{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 81 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} |
| Suffolk{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 70 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} |
| West Sussex
| 70 | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} |
| Isle of Wight
| 39 | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} |
| Thurrock{{efn|name=newbound|New electoral boundaries}}
| 49 | {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} |
Maps
=County councils=
File:Cambridgeshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Cambridgeshire
File:Derbyshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Derbyshire
File:Devon UK local election 2025 map.svg|Devon
File:Gloucestershire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Gloucestershire
File:Hertfordshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Hertfordshire
File:Kent UK local election 2025 map.svg|Kent
File:Lancashire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Lancashire
File:Leicestershire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Leicestershire
File:Lincolnshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Lincolnshire
File:Nottinghamshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Nottinghamshire
File:Oxfordshire UK local election 2025 map.png|Oxfordshire
File:Staffordshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Staffordshire
File:Warwickshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Warwickshire
File:Worcestershire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Worcestershire
=Unitary authorities=
File:Buckinghamshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Buckinghamshire
File:Cornwall UK local election 2025 map.svg|Cornwall
File:County Durham UK local election 2025 map.svg|County Durham
File:North Northamptonshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|North Northamptonshire
File:Northumberland UK local election 2025 map.svg|Northumberland
File:Shropshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Shropshire
File:West Northamptonshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|West Northamptonshire
File:Wiltshire UK local election 2025 map.svg|Wiltshire
=Metropolitan boroughs=
File:Doncaster UK local election 2025 map.svg|Doncaster
Analysis
{{Wikinews|Competitive local elections held in England}}The elections saw Reform UK win the most seats and take control of a number of local authorities. The governing Labour Party and opposition Conservative Party suffered historic losses. There were major gains for the Liberal Democrats, who took overall (majority) control in Cambridgeshire, Shropshire and Oxfordshire as well as gaining numerous seats elsewhere. At 30%, Reform's projected national vote share was higher then UKIP's 23% at the 2013 local elections, representing the first set of local elections since PNS began to be calculated where neither the Conservative nor Labour parties received the highest vote share.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqj4k2l20xlo|title=Sir John Curtice: Reform's sweeping election wins shake Tory and Labour dominance|last=Curtice|first=John|newspaper=BBC News|date=2 May 2025}}
The result of the 2025 Runcorn and Helsby by-election, which took place on the same day, has been categorised as a stunning victory for Reform UK,{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Jonathan |date=2 May 2025 |title='Reform's remarkable election wins show Nigel Farage really can become Prime Minister' |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/nigel-farage-believes-runcorn-and-helsby-by-election-win-will-help-make-him-prime-minister/ar-AA1E1ZNg?ocid=BingNewsVerp |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=The Daily Express}} as well as a major blow to Starmer, with many Labour MPs singling out the cuts to winter fuel payments as a significant factor in the party's defeat. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell argued that recent government cuts had made voters feel that the party had turned its back on them. Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East, called the result "entirely avoidable".{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Faye |date=2 May 2025 |title='Starmer suffers defeat in first by-election as Reform takes Runcorn and Helsby' |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/starmer-suffers-defeat-in-first-by-election-as-reform-takes-runcorn-and-helsby/ar-AA1E1tKL?ocid=BingNewsVerp |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=Sky News}} Starmer acknowledged that the result was disappointing but defended his government's decisions.{{Cite news |last=Lloyd |first=Nina |date=2 May 2025 |title=Starmer says 'I get it' after Labour's 'disappointing' Runcorn defeat |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/politics/government/starmer-says-i-get-it-after-labour-s-disappointing-runcorn-defeat/ar-AA1E2FeT?ocid=BingNewsVerp |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=The Independent}} Farage described the result as a "very big moment" for his party. He also attributed Labour's defeat to a loss of confidence in Starmer's governance, especially voter frustration on immigration.{{Cite news |last=Hughes |first=David |date=2 May 2025 |title='Reform beats Labour by six votes to take Runcorn and Helsby' |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/reform-beats-labour-by-six-votes-to-take-runcorn-and-helsby/ar-AA1E1HCL?ocid=BingNewsVerp |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=The Independent}}
| class="wikitable" text-align:right; font-size:95%;" |
| colspan="2" rowspan="3" | Party |
|---|
| rowspan="2" |
! colspan="2" | {{tooltip|Diff.|Difference in proportion}} from ! rowspan="2" | ! colspan="2" | {{tooltip|Diff.|Difference in proportion}} from |
| 2024{{Cite web |date=2024-05-03 |title=Curtice: Conservatives remain in deep electoral trouble |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3g935ynj18o |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
! 2021{{Cite news |date=2021-05-08 |title=Sir John Curtice: What the 2021 election results mean for the parties |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57040175 |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} ! 2024{{Cite web |title=Sky News projection: Labour on course to be largest party – but short of overall majority |url=https://news.sky.com/story/sky-news-projection-labour-on-course-to-be-largest-party-but-short-of-overall-majority-13128242 |access-date=2025-05-05 |website=Sky News |language=en}} |
| {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}}
|30% |{{increase}} 28pp | N/A{{efn|name="PNS NA"|Reform UK and the Green Party were counted as 'others' in former local election Projected National Shares.}} |32% | N/A{{efn|name="PNS NA"}} |
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
|20% |{{decrease}} 14pp |{{decrease}} 9pp |19% |{{decrease}} 16pp |
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|17% |{{steady}} |{{steady}} |16% |{{steady}} |
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
|15% |{{decrease}} 10pp |{{decrease}} 21pp |18% |{{decrease}} 8pp |
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}
|11% |{{decrease}} 2pp |N/A{{efn|name="PNS NA"}} |7% |N/A{{efn|name="PNS NA"}} |
| {{Party name with colour|Others|no_link=1}}
|7% |{{decrease}} 2pp |N/A{{efn|name="PNS NA"}} |8% |N/A{{efn|name="PNS NA"}} |
Opinion polls
=Voting intention=
| class="wikitable sortable mw-datatable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%; line-height:14px;"
! rowspan="2" |Date(s) ! rowspan="2" |Pollster ! rowspan="2" |Client ! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="number" |Sample ! rowspan="2" |Area ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" |Con ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" |Lab ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" |LD ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" |Grn ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"|Ref ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"|Others |
| data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}};" |
! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}};" | ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}};" | ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}};" | ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Reform UK}};" | |
|---|
| data-sort-value="2025-04-24" | 17 – 24 Apr 2025
| More In Common{{cite web | url=https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/media/r35hmdzs/april27voting.xlsx | title=Local Election Poll}} |Channel 4 |977 |GB |25% |18% |17% |8% |style="background:#ccf8ff; color: black;"|26% |6% |
=Seat projections=
| class="wikitable sortable mw-datatable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%; line-height:14px;"
! rowspan="2" |Date(s) ! rowspan="2" |Pollster ! rowspan="2" |Client ! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="number" |Sample ! rowspan="2" |Area ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" |Con ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" |Lab ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" |LD ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;" |Grn ! class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"|Ref ! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" style="width:50px;"|Others |
| data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}};" |
! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}};" | ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}};" | ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}};" | ! data-sort-type="number" style="background:{{party color|Reform UK}};" | |
|---|
| colspan="5" |Results
|317 |99 |370 |80 |style="background:#ccf8ff; color: black;"|677 |94 |
| data-sort-value="2025-03-10" | 1 – 10 Mar 2025
| Electoral Calculus{{cite web | url=https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/blogs/ec_lepoll_20250314.html | title=MRP Local Election Poll March 2025}} |5,421 |GB | style="background:#CCEBFF;" |548 |252 |270 |27 |474 |77 |
| style="background:#e9e9e9;" |6 May 2021
| colspan="2" style="background:#e9e9e9;" |2021 local elections | style="background:#e9e9e9;" |– | style="background:#e9e9e9;" |– | style="background:#CCEBFF;" |974 | style="background:#e9e9e9;" |307 | style="background:#e9e9e9;" |230 | style="background:#e9e9e9;" |38 | style="background:#e9e9e9;" |0 | style="background:#e9e9e9;" |101 |
Lord Haywood, a Conservative peer and political pollster, predicted that the Conservative Party could lose between 475 and 525 councillors in the local elections.{{Cite news |last=Penna |first=Dominic |date=2025-04-23 |title=Tories set to lose half of council seats amid Reform surge |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/23/tories-set-lose-half-council-seats-amid-reform-surge/?msockid=2cbc082f2fcb62bd084f1d652e5463f2 |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} He also suggested that the results would not be particularly positive for the Labour Party, forecasting little change in its overall number of councillors. Haywood projected that Reform UK could gain between 400 and 450 seats. He further indicated that Labour could be at risk of losing control of Doncaster Council to Reform UK and might lose nearly all of its seats on either Oxfordshire or Cambridgeshire councils.
On the day of the election, prior to the close of polls, the New Statesman published a forecast from Britain Elects{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2025-05-01 |title=Our forecast for today's local elections |url=https://bsky.app/profile/britainelects.com/post/3lo4owmtfbd2e |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Bluesky |publisher=@britainelects.com}} showing an expected result of the Conservatives on 483 seats, Labour on 334, the Liberal Democrats on 314, Reform on 311, Green on 56, and the remaining 109 for other parties.
See also
- 2025 Runcorn and Helsby by-election (1 May)
- 2025 Manx local elections (24 April)
Notes
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2025 United Kingdom local elections}}
{{United Kingdom elections}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|United Kingdom}}