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2025 United Kingdom local elections

Updated: Wikipedia source

2025 United Kingdom local elections

The 2025 United Kingdom local elections were held on 1 May 2025 for 1,641 council seats across 24 local authorities. 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. 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. 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. The BBC described the elections as a "sweeping victory" for Reform UK: the party won 677 seats, increasing their total councillor number to 804, just less than the 895 councillors in post for the Green Party. Reform thus held overall control in 10 local authorities, the Greens had overall control of 1. The governing Labour Party and opposition Conservative Party lost councillors ending with 6,177 and 4,403 councillors and overall control of 107 (-1) and 33 (-16) councils respectively. 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. There were gains for the Liberal Democrats who took overall control of three new councils (up to 37) and won more seats (370 new councillors to end with 3,197)) than the Conservatives for the second local election in a row. 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.

Infobox

Leader
Keir Starmer
Party
Labour
Leader since
4 April 2020
Seats before
6,322 seats 108 councils
Projected vote share[a]
20% 14 pp
Seats won (2025)
98 0 councils
Councillors (after)
6,124 107 councils
Net change (notional)
187 1 council

Tables

Aggregate seats contested by party[29] · Campaign
Reform UK
Reform UK
Party
Reform UK
Seats
1,624 / 1,641 (99%)
Conservative
Conservative
Party
Conservative
Seats
1,595 / 1,641 (97%)
Labour
Labour
Party
Labour
Seats
1,536 / 1,641 (94%)
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Party
Liberal Democrats
Seats
1,395 / 1,641 (85%)
Green
Green
Party
Green
Seats
1,202 / 1,641 (73%)
Party
Seats
Reform UK
1,624 / 1,641 (99%)
Conservative
1,595 / 1,641 (97%)
Labour
1,536 / 1,641 (94%)
Liberal Democrats
1,395 / 1,641 (85%)
Green
1,202 / 1,641 (73%)
· Results › Overall
Won
Won
Party
Won
Party
After
Councillors
+/−
Councillors
Won
Councillors
After
Councils
+/−
Total
Total
Party
Total
Party
1,635
Councillors
18,596
Councillors
Councillors
23
Councils
368
Councils
Party
Councillors
Councils
Won
After
+/−
Won
After
+/−
Reform
677
804
677
10
10
10
Liberal Democrats
370
3,197
163
3
40
3
Conservative
319
4,403
674
0
33
16
Labour
98
6,124
187
0
107
1
Green
79
895
44
0
1
SNP
418
1
Plaid Cymru
201
3
Independent
94
2,546
23
0
11
No overall control
10
162
4
Total
1,635
18,596
23
368
· Results › County councils
Previous
Previous
Council
Previous
Seats
Result
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Council
Cambridgeshire
Seats
61
Party control
No overall control (Lib Dem–Lab–Ind coalition)
Party control
Liberal Democrats
Details
Details
Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Council
Derbyshire
Seats
64
Party control
Conservative
Party control
Reform
Details
Details
Devon
Devon
Council
Devon
Seats
60
Party control
Conservative
Party control
No overall control (Lib Dem–Green coalition)
Details
Details
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Council
Gloucestershire
Seats
55
Party control
Conservative
Party control
No overall control (Lib Dem minority)
Details
Details
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Council
Hertfordshire
Seats
78
Party control
Conservative
Party control
No overall control (Lib Dem minority)
Details
Details
Kent
Kent
Council
Kent
Seats
81
Party control
Conservative
Party control
Reform
Details
Details
Lancashire
Lancashire
Council
Lancashire
Seats
84
Party control
Conservative
Party control
Reform
Details
Details
Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Council
Leicestershire
Seats
55
Party control
Conservative
Party control
No overall control (Reform UK minority)
Details
Details
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Council
Lincolnshire
Seats
70
Party control
Conservative
Party control
Reform
Details
Details
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Council
Nottinghamshire
Seats
66
Party control
Conservative
Party control
Reform
Details
Details
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Council
Oxfordshire
Seats
69
Party control
No overall control (Lib Dem–Lab–Grn coalition)
Party control
Liberal Democrats
Details
Details
Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Council
Staffordshire
Seats
62
Party control
Conservative
Party control
Reform
Details
Details
Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Council
Warwickshire
Seats
57
Party control
Conservative
Party control
No overall control (Reform UK minority)
Details
Details
Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Council
Worcestershire
Seats
57
Party control
Conservative
Party control
No overall control (Reform UK minority)
Details
Details
Council
Seats
Party control
Details
Previous
Result
Cambridgeshire
61
No overall control (Lib Dem–Lab–Ind coalition)
Liberal Democrats
Details
Derbyshire
64
Conservative
Reform
Details
Devon
60
Conservative
No overall control (Lib Dem–Green coalition)
Details
Gloucestershire
55
Conservative
No overall control (Lib Dem minority)
Details
Hertfordshire
78
Conservative
No overall control (Lib Dem minority)
Details
Kent
81
Conservative
Reform
Details
Lancashire
84
Conservative
Reform
Details
Leicestershire
55
Conservative
No overall control (Reform UK minority)
Details
Lincolnshire
70
Conservative
Reform
Details
Nottinghamshire
66
Conservative
Reform
Details
Oxfordshire
69
No overall control (Lib Dem–Lab–Grn coalition)
Liberal Democrats
Details
Staffordshire
62
Conservative
Reform
Details
Warwickshire
57
Conservative
No overall control (Reform UK minority)
Details
Worcestershire
57
Conservative
No overall control (Reform UK minority)
Details
· Results › Metropolitan boroughs
Previous
Previous
Council
Previous
Seats
Result
Doncaster
Doncaster
Council
Doncaster
Seats
55
Party control
Labour
Party control
Reform
Details
Details
Council
Seats
Party control
Details
Previous
Result
Doncaster
55
Labour
Reform
Details
· Results › Unitary authorities
Previous
Previous
Council
Previous
Seats
Result
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Council
Buckinghamshire
Seats
97
Party control
Conservative
Party control
No overall control (Con minority)
Details
Details
Cornwall
Cornwall
Council
Cornwall
Seats
87
Party control
Conservative
Party control
No overall control (Lib Dem–Ind coalition)
Details
Details
County Durham
County Durham
Council
County Durham
Seats
98
Party control
No overall control (Lib Dem–Con–Ind–North East Party coalition)
Party control
Reform
Details
Details
North Northamptonshire
North Northamptonshire
Council
North Northamptonshire
Seats
68
Party control
Conservative
Party control
Reform
Details
Details
Northumberland
Northumberland
Council
Northumberland
Seats
69
Party control
Conservative
Party control
No overall control (Con minority)
Details
Details
Shropshire
Shropshire
Council
Shropshire
Seats
74
Party control
Conservative
Party control
Liberal Democrats
Details
Details
West Northamptonshire
West Northamptonshire
Council
West Northamptonshire
Seats
76
Party control
Conservative
Party control
Reform
Details
Details
Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Council
Wiltshire
Seats
98
Party control
Conservative
Party control
No overall control (Lib Dem–Ind coalition)
Details
Details
Council
Seats
Party control
Details
Previous
Result
Buckinghamshire
97
Conservative
No overall control (Con minority)
Details
Cornwall
87
Conservative
No overall control (Lib Dem–Ind coalition)
Details
County Durham
98
No overall control (Lib Dem–Con–Ind–North East Party coalition)
Reform
Details
North Northamptonshire
68
Conservative
Reform
Details
Northumberland
69
Conservative
No overall control (Con minority)
Details
Shropshire
74
Conservative
Liberal Democrats
Details
West Northamptonshire
76
Conservative
Reform
Details
Wiltshire
98
Conservative
No overall control (Lib Dem–Ind coalition)
Details
· Results › Combined authority mayors
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Combined authority
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Mayor before
Nik Johnson (Labour)
Mayor after
Paul Bristow (Conservative) gain
Details
Details
West of England
West of England
Combined authority
West of England
Mayor before
Dan Norris (Independent, elected as Labour)
Mayor after
Helen Godwin (Labour) hold
Details
Details
Greater Lincolnshire
Greater Lincolnshire
Combined authority
Greater Lincolnshire
Mayor before
None, inaugural election
Mayor after
Andrea Jenkyns (Reform UK) new
Mayor after
Details
Hull and East Yorkshire
Hull and East Yorkshire
Combined authority
Hull and East Yorkshire
Mayor before
None, inaugural election
Mayor after
Luke Campbell (Reform UK) new
Mayor after
Details
Combined authority
Mayor before
Mayor after
Details
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Nik Johnson (Labour)
Paul Bristow (Conservative) gain
Details
West of England
Dan Norris (Independent, elected as Labour)
Helen Godwin (Labour) hold
Details
Greater Lincolnshire
None, inaugural election
Andrea Jenkyns (Reform UK) new
Details
Hull and East Yorkshire
None, inaugural election
Luke Campbell (Reform UK) new
Details
· Results › Single-authority mayors
Doncaster
Doncaster
Local Authority
Doncaster
Previous Mayor
Ros Jones (Labour)
Mayor-elect
Ros Jones (Labour) hold
Details
Details
North Tyneside
North Tyneside
Local Authority
North Tyneside
Previous Mayor
Norma Redfearn (Labour)
Mayor-elect
Karen Clark (Labour) hold
Details
Details
Local Authority
Previous Mayor
Mayor-elect
Details
Doncaster
Ros Jones (Labour)
Ros Jones (Labour) hold
Details
North Tyneside
Norma Redfearn (Labour)
Karen Clark (Labour) hold
Details
· Results › City of London Corporation
Previous
Previous
Council
Previous
Seats
Result
City of London
City of London
Council
City of London
Seats
100
Party control
Independent
Party control
Independent
Details
Details
Council
Seats
Party control
Details
Previous
Result
City of London
100
Independent
Independent
Details
· Results › Isles of Scilly
Previous
Previous
Council
Previous
Seats
Result
Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly
Council
Isles of Scilly
Seats
16
Party control
Independent
Party control
Independent
Details
Details
Council
Seats
Party control
Details
Previous
Result
Isles of Scilly
16
Independent
Independent
Details
· Results › Elections delayed to 2026
East Sussex
East Sussex
Council
East Sussex
Seats
50
Party control
No overall control
Essex
Essex
Council
Essex
Seats
78
Party control
Conservative
Hampshire
Hampshire
Council
Hampshire
Seats
78
Party control
Conservative
Norfolk
Norfolk
Council
Norfolk
Seats
84
Party control
Conservative
Surrey
Surrey
Council
Surrey
Seats
81
Party control
Conservative
Suffolk
Suffolk
Council
Suffolk
Seats
70
Party control
Conservative
West Sussex
West Sussex
Council
West Sussex
Seats
70
Party control
Conservative
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
Council
Isle of Wight
Seats
39
Party control
No overall control
Thurrock
Thurrock
Council
Thurrock
Seats
49
Party control
Labour
Council
Seats
Party control
East Sussex
50
No overall control
Essex
78
Conservative
Hampshire
78
Conservative
Norfolk
84
Conservative
Surrey
81
Conservative
Suffolk
70
Conservative
West Sussex
70
Conservative
Isle of Wight
39
No overall control
Thurrock
49
Labour
Projected proportion of aggregate votes · Analysis
2024
2024
Party
2024
Party
2021
BBC
2024
Party
BBC
Sky News
mw- Diff. from
Diff. from
2024
2021
2024
Reform
30%
28pp
N/A
32%
N/A
Labour
20%
14pp
9pp
19%
16pp
Liberal Democrats
17%
16%
Conservative
15%
10pp
21pp
18%
8pp
Green
11%
2pp
N/A
7%
N/A
Others
7%
2pp
N/A
8%
N/A
· Opinion polls › Voting intention
17 – 24 Apr 2025
17 – 24 Apr 2025
Date(s)conducted
17 – 24 Apr 2025
Pollster
More In Common
Client
Channel 4
Samplesize
977
Area
GB
Con
25%
Lab
18%
LD
17%
Grn
8%
Ref
26%
Others
6%
Date(s)conducted
Pollster
Client
Samplesize
Area
Con
Lab
LD
Grn
Ref
Others
17 – 24 Apr 2025
More In Common
Channel 4
977
GB
25%
18%
17%
8%
26%
6%
· Opinion polls › Seat projections
Results
Results
Date(s)conducted
Results
Pollster
319
Client
98
Samplesize
370
Area
79
Con
677
Lab
94
1 – 10 Mar 2025
1 – 10 Mar 2025
Date(s)conducted
1 – 10 Mar 2025
Pollster
Electoral Calculus
Client
The Daily Telegraph
Samplesize
5,421
Area
GB
Con
548
Lab
252
LD
270
Grn
27
Ref
474
Others
77
6 May 2021
6 May 2021
Date(s)conducted
6 May 2021
Pollster
2021 local elections
Client
Samplesize
Area
974
Con
307
Lab
230
LD
38
Grn
0
Ref
101
Date(s)conducted
Pollster
Client
Samplesize
Area
Con
Lab
LD
Grn
Ref
Others
Results
319
98
370
79
677
94
1 – 10 Mar 2025
Electoral Calculus
The Daily Telegraph
5,421
GB
548
252
270
27
474
77
6 May 2021
2021 local elections
974
307
230
38
0
101

References

  1. All vote shares in the infobox are projected national vote shares calculated by the BBC.
  2. Davey served as Acting Leader from 13 December 2019 to 27 August 2020 alongside the Party Presidents Baroness Brinton an
  3. City of London Corporation and Isles of Scilly Council
  4. Because the number of council seats shifts every year due to boundary changes and local government reorganisation, chang
  5. There were no local elections in Scotland in 2025.
  6. There were no local elections in Wales in 2025.
  7. New electoral boundaries
  8. Reform UK and the Green Party were counted as 'others' in former local election Projected National Shares.
  9. BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c39jedewxp8t
  10. Open Council Data
    https://opencouncildata.co.uk/
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  12. "Councillors Breakdown by Party Latest"
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  13. GOV.UK
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  15. Sky News
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  47. "Labour launches local election campaign with promise of 'change'"
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  48. ITV News
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  58. The Independent
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  59. The Independent
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  61. Sky News
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  62. BBC News
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  63. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57040175
  64. Sky News
    https://news.sky.com/story/sky-news-projection-labour-on-course-to-be-largest-party-but-short-of-overall-majority-13128242
  65. "Local Election Poll"
    https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/media/yajkfucy/local-elections-polling.xlsx
  66. "MRP Local Election Poll March 2025"
    https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/blogs/ec_lepoll_20250314.html
  67. The Telegraph
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/04/23/tories-set-lose-half-council-seats-amid-reform-surge/?msockid=2cbc082f2fcb62bd084f1d652e5463f2
  68. Bluesky
    https://bsky.app/profile/britainelects.com/post/3lo4owmtfbd2e
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