Labour loses control of Birmingham city council after 14 years of leadership

Labour has lost control of Birmingham City Council after 14 years, following significant gains by Reform UK, the Green Party, and pro-Gaza independent candidates. No single party secured an overall majority in the elections for the UK's second-largest local authority. Labour lost over 30 councillors, while Reform gained 21 and the Greens 11. The results reflect wider political fragmentation and follow a period of financial difficulties for the council, including a bankruptcy declaration in 2023 and service cuts. Outgoing Labour leader John Cotton acknowledged the need for the party to better communicate its vision to voters.

Reform UK has achieved significant gains in England's local council elections, taking hundreds of seats from the Labour Party. The populist right-wing party, led by Nigel Farage, has secured over 500 seats and four councils, with Farage stating Labour is being "wiped out" in traditional areas. This outcome represents a major setback for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, who have lost approximately 300 councillors. These local election results, held on May 8, 2026, are seen as a potential springboard for Reform UK's challenge in the next UK general election, expected by 2029. Experts suggest Reform UK's success in local government will be crucial in demonstrating their ability to govern and will likely intensify internal pressure on Starmer's leadership.

Labour has suffered significant losses in England's local elections, with Reform UK making notable gains. The elections, held on Thursday, saw Labour lose councillors across the country, particularly in its traditional northern strongholds. Reform UK achieved a sweeping victory in Hartlepool, winning all 12 seats up for election, and made substantial gains in Halton, Cheshire, securing 15 councillors. These results indicate a challenging electoral landscape for Labour leader Keir Starmer, with some within the party calling for leadership change. The turnout for these elections was slightly higher than the previous local elections in 2024.

Labour leader Keir Starmer is making a last-minute appeal to voters considering the Green Party or Reform UK in England's local elections. Facing potential record losses, Starmer argued that these parties are unfit to lead during global instability and that only Labour prioritizes the national interest. He contrasted Labour's promise of progress with the "anger and division" of Reform and the "empty promises" of the Greens. Significant seat losses in these elections could pose an existential threat to Starmer's leadership. Labour hopes to mitigate negative perceptions by highlighting early gains in London, but is expected to face losses in historically Labour areas to Reform and also anticipates setbacks in Scottish and Welsh elections.

Local election campaigning is in its final week, with forecaster Robert Hayward predicting significant gains for Reform UK, potentially at the expense of both Labour and Conservative seats. In London, Conservative minister Kemi Badenoch stated her party's commitment to keeping council tax low, differentiating their approach from Reform UK's promises. Badenoch expressed a desire for the Conservatives to win as many seats as possible and regain lost councils, such as Westminster, though she declined to set a specific target. The upcoming elections will determine the political landscape in English local councils.