A Political Shakeup in the Making: The 2025 Local Elections
Election updates: Reform party secures five county council wins in a landslide local vote
The local elections of 2025 are poised to bring about significant changes across the political landscape of the UK. Preliminary results hint at a sea change in voter allegiances, a trend that may have its roots in previous years.
So far, Reform has made a splash, seizing over 500 council seats, with many more still to be counted. This electoral breakthrough has seen Reform taking control of five councils, including traditionally Tory strongholds like Staffordshire and Derbyshire. These victories mark a major coup for the party.
In the wee hours of the morning, Reform scored a major victory in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, edging out Labour by a mere six votes. A notable achievement was also chalked up by Andrea Jenkyns, the former Conservative MP, who was elected as the first Mayor of Lincolnshire - the first mayoralty won by Reform to date.
While Nigel Farage's party has garnered approximately 39% of the vote in the initial results, the Conservatives and Labour face an uphill battle in defending their seats. The Conservatives, who are defending more than 1,000 seats, have been experiencing a steady decline in poll numbers since 2021. Labour, meanwhile, is defending around 100 seats, and Reform only a handful.
Labour Party Chair Ellie Reeves acknowledges the challenges ahead, stating, "Change takes time." During media appearances, she emphasized, "People don't feel change overnight, but we're getting on with delivery." favour some profound changes that sets the stage for potential upheaval in the 2025 local elections.
On the other hand, the Conservatives, under the leadership of Kemi Badenoch, are aware of the difficulties they're facing. In a statement on social media, Badenoch admitted, "These were always going to be a very difficult set of elections coming off the high of 2021, and our historic defeat last year - and so it's proving." She expressed determination to regain the trust of the public and the lost seats in the future.
Meanwhile, Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, expressed deep concern about the success of Reform and stated that her party is positioning itself to replace the Conservatives as the party of Middle England. She remarked, "There are people looking for alternatives. It's our job to show it's the Liberal Democrats who can offer the change that the country is crying out for."
While the 2024 council elections are not as prominently discussed in the sources, the trends leading up to the 2025 local elections suggest a potential sea change in voter allegiances. This shift, driven by dissatisfaction with incumbent parties, has resulted in the emergence of new political blocs such as Reform UK.
References:
[1] BBC. "'Projected national share' measure faces uncertainties in 2025 local elections analysis." BBC News. 2021. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-57859385
[2] Daniell, Valentina. "Five things to watch for in the 2025 local elections." Politico Europe. 2025. https://www.politico.eu/article/5-things-to-watch-for-in-the-2025-local-elections/
- The electoral success of Reform party in the 2025 local elections has seen them seize control of over 500 council seats, including traditionally Tory strongholds, marking a major coup for the party.
- The Conservative Party, who are defending more than 1,000 seats, have been experiencing a steady decline in poll numbers since 2021.
- In the 2024 council elections, the trends suggest a potential sea change in voter allegiances, leading to the emergence of new political blocs like Reform UK.
- Kemi Badenoch, the Conservatives' leader, has admitted that these elections have been difficult for her party and expressed determination to regain the trust of the public and the lost seats in the future.
- Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, expressed deep concern about the success of Reform and stated that her party is positioning itself to replace the Conservatives as the party of Middle England.
- The Labour Party, who are defending around 100 seats, has acknowledged the challenges ahead and emphasized their commitment to delivering change over time.
- The 2025 local elections have brought to light a broader political narrative that encompasses topics ranging from war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation, to general-news, crime-and-justice, accidents, fires, migration, to car-accidents.
