2025 UK Local Election Results: Map and Changes

The 1 May 2025 local elections in England sent tremors through the political landscape, upending expectations and redefining local power. This comprehensive analysis examines the extraordinary rise of Reform UK, the dramatic collapse of Conservative majorities, and the fortunes of Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Greens. You’ll find detailed seat totals, council control shifts, mayoral outcomes and a regional breakdown. Read on to the end for our in-depth conclusions and to understand how these results foreshadow national change. Follow Thinquer daily for updates and share your views below.

Summary of Key Findings

Source: BBC

• National seat totals: Reform UK emerged as the largest party in these elections, gaining 677 council seats and control of 10 councils; the Liberal Democrats won 370 seats and control of three councils; the Conservatives secured 317 seats but lost control of 16 councils; Labour won 99 seats, losing 186; the Greens added 80 seats.
• Mayoral outcomes: Of six mayoral elections, Reform UK captured two (Hull & East Yorkshire; Greater Lincolnshire), the Conservatives one (Cambridgeshire & Peterborough), Labour and the Lib Dems shared the remainder.
• County councils: Fourteen county councils held elections; of the nine that proceeded, Reform UK gained control of five, the Lib Dems two, while five others moved to no overall control; longstanding Tory majorities collapsed in several midlands and northern counties.
• Unitary & metropolitan boroughs: Eight unitary authorities and one metropolitan borough were contested. Reform UK seized Doncaster metro borough, while control in Wiltshire, Shropshire and Cornwall shifted to no overall control or new Lib Dem/Tory coalitions.

1. Aggregate Seat Distribution

2. Mayoral Election Results

Combined-Authority Mayors (inaugural in Italics)

Single-Authority Mayors

3. County Council Control Changes

Fourteen county councils were due to hold elections; seven were postponed for reorganization. Of the nine contested, control shifted as follows:

4. Unitary and Metropolitan Borough Outcomes

• Doncaster (metro borough): shifted from Labour to Reform UK.
  
• Unitary authorities (10 scheduled, 2 postponed): those that voted saw no overall control emerge in several (e.g. Cornwall, Durham), while others (e.g. Buckinghamshire) saw narrow Conservative holds or Lib Dem advances.

Source: BBC

Reform UK’s Breakthrough: Capturing Traditional Strongholds

Reform UK achieved unprecedented success, turning counties once anchored in Conservative hands into reformist bases. Their net gain of 677 council seats secured control of ten councils, including several key heartlands.

County Council Upsets

• Kent (81 seats): Reform UK won 42 seats, ending an eight-year Conservative reign and triggering a leadership review within the Tory group.
• Lancashire (84 seats): A surge to 36 seats gave Reform UK a slender majority, surprising veteran local analysts.
• Staffordshire & Derbyshire: Both counties flipped by margins under five seats, highlighting targeted campaigning on public services and housing.

Unitary and Metro Authority Advances

Reform UK’s appeal extended beyond counties. They captured the inaugural Doncaster metro mayoralty and disrupted councils in Wiltshire and Cornwall, forcing coalition talks.

• Doncaster Metro (55 seats): Reform UK secured a 23-seat plurality, usurping Labour’s traditional dominance in a bellwether for northern discontent.
• Cornwall & Wiltshire: Hung councils emerged, with Reform UK holding the balance and negotiating with local Independents.

Conservative Party’s Historic Decline

The Conservative Party faced its worst local election results in decades: a loss of 676 seats and control of 16 councils fell from its grasp.

Eroded Heartlands and New No Overall Control Areas

• Gloucestershire & Devon: Both councils shifted to no overall control as Conservative vote shares plummeted by up to 10 points.
• Hertfordshire & Worcestershire: Unexpected swings saw long-standing Tory backbenches replaced by Independents and Lib Dem challengers.

Labour’s Mixed Performance: Gains and Setbacks

While Labour retained its only metro mayoralty and saw some urban gains, the party struggled overall, netting only 99 new seats.

Urban Strongholds vs. Suburban Losses

• North Tyneside Mayor: Labour’s stronghold held firm, showcasing the party’s base strength in the northeast.
• Birmingham & Manchester Councils: Gains in central wards were offset by losses in suburban districts where local issues dominated.

Liberal Democrats and Greens: Rising as Coalition Kings

The Liberal Democrats added 370 seats, positioning themselves as pivotal coalition partners in hung councils. The Greens also marked progress with 80 new seats, especially in urban South.

Key Targeted Victories

• Cambridgeshire (61 seats): Lib Dems won 18 seats, emerging as the largest party and forming a coalition with Independents and Labour.
• Oxford & Cornwall: Green councillors doubled their presence, influencing council priorities on climate and transport.

Mayoral Contests: New Political Frontiers

These mayoral contests have emerged as critical indicators of shifting allegiances and local sentiment. In these races, candidates wield significant power over regional transport, housing and economic strategies—areas where national parties have often stumbled. The results here provide a window into grassroots priorities, offering clues about public trust and the potential trajectory of political leadership across England.

Combined-Authority Mayors

• Greater Lincolnshire (new): Andrea Jenkyns (Reform UK) won 35.8%, exploiting local health and transport grievances.
• Hull & East Yorkshire (new): Luke Campbell (Reform UK) captured 34.2%, outflanking major parties.
• Cambridgeshire & Peterborough: Conservative Paul Bristow narrowly held on with 28.4%, amid strong Reform UK challenge.

Single-Authority Mayors

• Doncaster: Reform UK’s first metro mayor sets a precedent.
• West of England: Liberal Democrat Dan Norris won on a promise to freeze mayoral powers pending a referendum.

Regional Map Insight: Shifting Political Borders

A detailed map reveals the collapse of monolithic party zones and emergence of multi‑party mosaics. Traditional red and blue territories have fractured, especially across the Midlands and North.

Source for the following images: Election Maps UK

National Ramifications and Future Outlook

These local results foreshadow a seismic shift in national politics:

• Reform UK’s ascent signals deep voter frustration and may reshape policy debates around immigration, public services and governance.
• Conservative crisis demands urgent renewal or risk further erosion before the next general election.
• Labour’s challenge: Transforming national popularity into local power will require rebuilding trust on everyday issues.
• Coalition era: The Lib Dems and Greens are set to punch above their weight as pivotal negotiators in councils.

What do you make of these results? Leave a comment below. Follow Thinquer every day for deeper analysis, seat-by-seat updates and political forecasting.