UK Local Elections 2025 – Complete Results and Analysis

The 1 May 2025 local elections in England produced one of the most striking results in recent political history. Reform UK, a party that barely registered in local government two years earlier, emerged as the largest party by seats won, winning 677 out of 1,641 seats contested. The elections reshaped the political map at the county and unitary council level, with traditional heavyweights like the Conservatives and Labour suffering significant losses.

More than 8,600 candidates competed across 23 or 24 local authorities, depending on how the City of London is counted. Voter turnout reached 34% overall, according to the Electoral Commission, continuing a long trend of low participation in local polls. Yet the results have been widely described as a political earthquake, breaking the Conservative–Labour duopoly that has dominated local government for decades.

This article provides a complete breakdown of the results, explains where to find your local ward-level data, and looks ahead to the next local elections scheduled for 2026.

Who Won the UK Local Elections 2025?

Reform UK won the largest number of seats, taking 677 out of 1,641 seats up for election – 41% of the total. This far exceeded pre-election opinion polls, which had projected a strong showing but not outright victory in seat count. The party achieved a vote share of around 31% based on early projections by psephologist Michael Thrasher, who analysed approximately 1,000 voting areas.

Key Insights at a Glance

• Reform UK won 677 seats – the most of any party, with 41% of contested seats.
• The elections were held on 1 May 2025 across 23 or 24 English councils, including 14 county councils.
• Turnout figures are still being finalised; early estimates suggest a moderate turnout similar to previous local elections.
• Several councils saw changes in political control, with Reform UK gaining in previously safe Conservative or Labour areas.
• The results are seen as a significant shift in local government landscape ahead of the next general election.
• Labour dropped into third place in national vote share projections, behind Reform UK and the Conservatives.
• The Liberal Democrats and Greens also made gains, but not on the scale of Reform UK.

Quick‑Reference Fact Table

Which Councils Were Up for Election on 1 May 2025?

The elections covered 14 county councils, plus a number of unitary authorities and boroughs. The exact number is reported as 23 by the Commons Library and 24 by Wikipedia, with the discrepancy likely due to whether the City of London Corporation is included as a separate authority. Nine county council areas originally scheduled for May 2025 were postponed to May 2026 as part of the government’s English Devolution White Paper, reducing the total number of holding elections by 65 compared to the original calendar.

Counties and Unitary Authorities That Voted

Among the county councils that went to the polls were Cambridgeshire, Greater Lincolnshire, and East Yorkshire. Reform UK recorded decisive wins in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull, while in Runcorn the party secured a “massive win” with enormous vote swings – one seat was won by a majority of only six votes, described as the tightest ever seen. Other councils, such as Cambridge and Peterborough, held on longer for the Conservatives, but overall the traditional party suffered heavy losses in areas where Reform UK advanced.

Why Some Councils Did Not Hold Elections

The government postponed elections in nine county council areas to May 2026 to allow local government reorganisation and devolution to proceed. This affected 65 fewer authorities than would normally have held elections in a full local election cycle. The decision was based on the English Devolution White Paper, which aims to create larger combined authorities.

Where Can I Find My Local 2025 Election Results?

Official results are available through multiple channels. The BBC News election results page provides a ward‑level breakdown for each council, with an interactive map that allows searching by area. The Electoral Commission offers a postcode lookup tool that shows the candidates and the declared results for each ward. For detailed analysis, the Commons Library research briefing CBP‑10272 (published 4 July 2025) contains comprehensive tables by region and historical comparisons.

Using the Postcode Lookup Tool

The Electoral Commission’s “Your election information” page (linked above) lets you enter your postcode and see the results for your ward, including the votes cast for each candidate and the new councillors elected on 1 May. This is the quickest way to find out who now represents you at the local level.

Ward‑Level Data and Maps

Several news outlets, including Sky News and the BBC, published interactive maps showing the political colour of each ward after the count. These maps reveal the geographical pattern of Reform UK’s gains – concentrated in previously Conservative strongholds in the North and Midlands – while Labour held ground in some urban centres and the West of England.

What Do the 2025 Local Election Results Mean?

The 2025 local elections represent a dramatic realignment in English politics, breaking the long‑standing Conservative–Labour duopoly that had dominated local government since the 1970s. Reform UK’s surge, achieving 41% of contested seats, is historically unprecedented for a new or minor party in local elections. The Conservatives suffered their worst local election performance in modern history, polling around 19% of the vote, while Labour dropped into third place with around 15%.

How the Results Compare to Opinion Polls and the 2024 General Election

Reform UK’s vote share of approximately 31% exceeded opinion poll predictions that had placed them in the low 20s. The party’s performance was particularly strong in areas where it had previously won few or no seats. Compared to the 2024 general election, where Reform UK won five MPs, the local election result shows a far deeper penetration of the party into local government structures.

What the Reform UK Win Signals for National Politics

Analysts point to dissatisfaction with the two main parties as a key driver. Immigration, local services, and a perceived lack of delivery by both the previous Conservative government and the current Labour government under Keir Starmer were cited by voters in ward‑level surveys. However, experts caution against directly extrapolating local results to a general election, as turnout is lower and voting patterns differ.

When Are the Next Local Elections in the UK?

The next major round of local elections in England is scheduled for May 2026. This will include the nine county councils that were postponed from May 2025, as well as other authorities that normally hold elections in that cycle. Some councils may also hold by‑elections for individual vacancies before then. Below is a timeline of key events for the 2025 elections and upcoming dates.

1. Early 2025 – Election dates announced; candidate nominations opened.
2. March–April 2025 – Campaign period, candidate lists published.
3. 1 May 2025 – Polling day; voting from 7 am to 10 pm.
4. 2–3 May 2025 – Counting and declaration of results in most councils.
5. May–June 2025 – Final results published; some recounts or by‑elections.
6. 4 July 2025 – Commons Library publishes detailed analysis (CBP‑10272).
7. May 2026 (projected) – Next major round of local elections in England (some councils, including the nine postponed areas).

How Certain Are the 2025 Local Election Results?

While the overall outcome is clear, some details remain incomplete. The table below separates what is firmly established from what is still evolving.

What Was the Voter Turnout and What Does It Mean?

According to the Electoral Commission’s official report on the May 2025 local elections, overall turnout was 34% of the eligible electorate. For county council elections it was 34.3%, for unitary council elections 35.2%, and for combined authority mayoral elections 30.8%. In‑person voting turnout was 27%, while postal voting turnout was significantly higher at 69%, with 2.4 million postal votes cast. For further details on the election results, you can refer to the comprehensive analysis available at The Idea of You cast.

The May 2025 elections had the smallest number of eligible voters for a set of scheduled May polls in England in the last 50 years – a total electorate of 13.7 million, with 8,624 candidates standing. Despite the low participation, voter confidence in the electoral process remained high: 79% were confident in how the elections were conducted, 85% were satisfied with voter registration, and 95% were satisfied with voting processes. However, only 56% knew they could obtain a free voter ID, and many voters expressed a desire for more information about candidates and parties.

The low turnout continues a decades‑long trend of declining participation in local elections. The much higher postal voting engagement suggests that convenience of voting method plays a significant role in whether people cast their ballot. The Electoral Commission has called for measures to increase awareness of voter ID and to improve the accessibility of candidate information.

Where Do These Figures Come From?

The data in this article is drawn from official sources and reputable media analysis. Key sources include the BBC News election results page, the Commons Library research briefing CBP‑10272, the Electoral Commission’s post‑election report, and the Wikipedia article on the 2025 United Kingdom local elections. Additional context comes from Sky News political analysis by Sam Coates and Ed Conway, as well as Business Green reporting. The following quotes illustrate the authoritative basis of the numbers.

“Reform UK won the largest number of seats with 677, amounting to 41% of all seats up for election.”

– Commons Library Research Briefing CBP-10272 (4 July 2025)

“Counting has come to an end after local elections across England on Thursday 1 May.”

– BBC News election results page

“The May 2025 local elections had the smallest number of eligible voters for a set of scheduled May polls in England in the last 50 years.”

– Electoral Commission report on the May 2025 local elections

What Happens Next?

With the final results now published, attention turns to the governance of councils under new political control. Reform UK will have to form administrations or coalitions in several areas where it won a plurality but not an outright majority. The next major electoral test will be the May 2026 local elections, which include the nine postponed county councils and other authorities. For a comprehensive overview of the 2025 results and what they mean, see the UK Local Elections 2025 Results: Reform UK, Council Seats, Turnout and Analysis page. To check your future voting information, visit the Electoral Commission’s postcode lookup tool.

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