We’re your go-to source for updates, insightful analysis, and in-depth commentary into the 2025 local elections.

• Explore comprehensive analyses of the outcomes
• Delve into expert commentary on the implications for local government
• Visualise the shifting political landscape with detailed maps across the regions

Check out:

• latest commentary
• what’s up for grabs

Or you can jump to the final round-ups for the contests that interest you the most:

• • East Midlands
  • East of England
  • North East
  • North West
  • South East
  • South West
  • West Midlands
  • Yorkshire and the Humber

Sign up to LGIU for even more local government updates, insights and resources straight to your inbox 📥

2/5/25 | 19:00

Does rollercoaster begin to cover it? We started the morning talking about Andrea Jenkyns being the first Reform candidate to hold a position of power in regional government and we ended the day with Reform taking control of a number of sizeable county and unitary councils.

As things stand:

Jump to the final round-ups for the contests that interest you the most:

• • East Midlands
  • East of England
  • North East
  • North West
  • South East
  • South West
  • West Midlands
  • Yorkshire and the Humber

2/5/25 16:43

The current state of play

2/5/25 15:55

North West: final round-up

The sole authority in the North West with elections this year was Lancashire County Council, where the Conservatives had held control since 2017. Owing to the very modest majority commanded by the incumbents, Conservative control was always going to be vulnerable. However, it was extraordinarily overturned by Reform UK, who won 53 of the 84 seats, with the Conservatives down from 48 to a mere 8. Labour too suffered heavy losses, losing 27 of their 32 seats, while Green and the Liberal Democrats made marginal gains.

2/5/25 15:55

North East: final round-up

Although there were only a handful of elections in the North East, the results remain incredibly significant.

As was the case before the election, Northumberland County Council remains under No Overall Control. However, both the Conservatives (-10) and Labour (-12) took heavy losses, with Reform UK, gaining 23 seats on the council.

Prior to the election, Labour held the largest number of councillors on Durham County Council), but the multiparty coalition that governed this No Overall Control council has been substituted outright by the sweeping force of Reform UK, who won an astounding 65 seats out of a total of 98. Reform held 0 seats in the previous administration, so this result is truly one of the most remarkable outcomes of yesterday’s polls.

2/5/25 | 15:50

Results have been trickling in steadily this afternoon with four – Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Kent – out of the latest seven declarations falling to Reform. Reform UK are now in charge of seven English councils, including the once Conservative flagship Kent County Council.

On a scale of secure to not secure, Derbyshire was set to be the strongest starting position for Conservatives, but all four had varying signs of movement. In particular, we picked out Kent in our top 5 to watch out for this year because the Conservatives had a lot to lose in this race, and evidently, they did.

The Conservatives have also lost control of Devon, Worcestershire and Warwickshire to no overall control. This is despite having the largest head start in Devon, a favourable position in Worcestershire to stay in control, and a very strong lead in Warwickshire, all of which no longer stand. In fact, Reform came very close to taking control in Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

For more information about how NOC councils are run in practice, check out our short explainer here.

2/5/25 | 15:43

Here’s the North East and the North West before and after their election results.

2/5/25 | 15:00

2/5/25 | 14:55

England’s Combined Authorities political landscape.

Not sure what a combined authority is and what they do? Read our short explainer here.

02/05/25 | 14:38

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoralty, previously Labour, has gone to the Conservative candidate and former MP, Paul Bristow, with 28.4% of the vote share. Reform followed fairly closely with 23.4%, Labour 20.1% and Lib Dem 19.6%. In our predictions, we felt this kind of fractured outcome was perhaps to be expected in the region, with Conservative, Labour and Lib Dems having a strong showing across the combined authority and with the incumbent Nik Johnson choosing to step aside after 15 years. But, as is the story of this year’s election, out of the woodwork appears Reform.

02/05/25 13:55

Reform has won an overall majority at Durham County Council. This is the third council today that Reform has taken control of. While the council had been under no overall control since 2021, it had been consecutively run by Labour from 1925 to 2021.

In our Ones to Watch guide, we marked Durham as a prime Labour target thanks to their strong performance in the General Election, where they won every seat. However, we also noted the dark horse in the race: Reform, in second place. Evidently, Reform has not just pulled it off, but has surpassed our and many other people’s expectations, by securing 55 seats – and counting – with 98 in total being contested.

02/05/25 13:28

Reform UK took the newly created Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty and the county council has followed suit, with Reform assuming control in a staggering reversal of fortunes for the Conservatives who went into the election with 53 of the 70 seats on the council. The majority of councils are still to declare results and they will not all go Reform’s way but fair to say the scale of their successes early on have been unprecedented.

02/05/25 12:55

Reform UK have taken control of Staffordshire County Council with more than 20 seats still to count. Hands up, in our Ones to Watch we thought they might make a breakthrough, but we didn’t predict the council changing hands, and there are still about 20 seats to declare so potential for a very large majority. This is the first council that Reform UK have ever taken control of, overturning a Conservative majority, which stood at 50 seats before yesterday’s elections.

2/5/25 | 12:35

What do Mayors in England actually do?

Today’s elections have brought mayors to the forefront of the political conversation, but you would be forgiven for asking which mayor is which. The distinction between the two types that have been elected today often leads to confusion.

This morning, in North Tyneside and Doncaster, we saw council mayors elected, while in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, West of England, Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire, voters were choosing combined authority mayors.

As the local government reorganisation agenda – which has a distinct focus on creating more mayors across England pushes on – it is essential that there is clarity about these leadership types. The difference extends beyond the name and encompasses their power, responsibility and how the regional and local governments operate.

Our explainer explores the differences and – as the name implies – explains all.

2/5/25 | 12:06

Democratic dogs

We love this picture of the gorgeous Pepper sent in by one of our readers. Pepper’s first time at the polls apparently and she was a bit disappointed that doggy treats and less restrictions on muddy paws on sofas weren’t on any manifestos.  But we bet she stole some hearts.

2/5/25 | 10:10

Coffee break…

With the first wave of results now in – we are in the familiar mid morning lull where things have slowed down and stock is taken. With the results largely following what the polls predicted, this is a good moment to pause, grab some breakfast and recharge. The next big rush of results are expected later this afternoon and deep into the evening thanks to the tireless count staff. As always, we will be following with very keen eyes.

2/5/25 | 08:08

The mayor, the merrier…

It’s worth noting that, confusingly, there are two very different types of mayor being elected today.

Council mayors (or Executive Mayors) are the directly elected leader of a single council.

Councils were given the option to adopt this governance model in the Local Government Act 2000 if it was approved by a local referendum. Just over a dozen were created, and in a handful of cases, there have been subsequent referenda to abolish the post.

Combined authority mayors are leaders of combined authorities made up of a number of constituent councils.

They have a range of strategic powers over transport, planning, and development, depending on the individual devolution deal. They have been introduced steadily since 2014.

Both types of mayor are directly elected.

The current government’s plan is to roll out Combined Authority Mayors across the country (now to be known as Mayoral Strategic Authorities). They have said they will not allow the creation of any more Council Mayors.

Of the Mayors elected this morning: Ros Jones in Doncaster and Norma Redfearn in North Tyneside are Council Mayors, while Helen Godwin in West of England and Andrea Jenkyns in Greater Lincolnshire are Combined Authorities.

To make it more complex, both Doncaster and North Tyneside are themselves part of combined authorities that also have a mayor.

No one said local government was simple.

2/5/25 | 07:45

Mayors and local government
– Jonathan Carr-West

A lot of people will be looking at how well Reform are doing across these local election results this morning. But the state of the locals currently leaves us eagerly awaiting more results.

What we do know so far is that, for the first time, Reform UK will hold power regionally. This is significant given the government’s agenda to drive further devolution across England. But like all combined authority mayors, Dame Andrea Jenkyns will find that to be successful she must build effective partnerships with local government and across the public sector. The nature of the combined authority mayoral model and the relatively limited powers of the Mayor mean that they lead most effectively through persuasion, not compulsion.

The context for that leadership will be revealed by results later in the day, but plural systems are business as usual in local government.

So, while the fortunes of Reform UK may be a story in these local elections, it is certainly not the only story we should be looking out for today.

2/5/25 | 07:01

First time Reform holds regional power

Greater Lincolnshire Mayoralty has been won by Reform’s Dame Andrea Jenkyns with 42% of the vote share. This marks the first time Reform has ever held power at a regional level. We await results later in the day from Lincolnshire’s county election results to see if this will be a full Reform victory for the region.

2/5/25 | 6:39

First council to declare results

Northumberland County Council takes the crown as the first council in this year’s local elections to declare results and has remained with no overall control. Reform made a gain of 23 seats, and Labour and Conservatives lost 12 and 10 respectively.

2/5/25 | 06:28

Recounts

Just 6 votes in it in the Runcorn by-election. This was confirmed after a very tight recount.

Hat tip to the electoral administers who – after staying up all night to deliver this result – have had to double down efforts to ensure the final numbers
2/5/25 | 5:39

State of play so far this morning

The Labour Party will be breathing a sigh of relief….for now…. as the Doncaster mayorality is held by incumbent Ros Jones. But the big story so far is how much we’re seeing a proper five party division across the results. A sign of real split across the electorate in the race results at this stage.
2/5/25 | 3:12

One to watch.. turnout

One thing we’ll be closely looking at today is not just who wins, but what the turnout figures suggest for the health of our local democracy. As we expected, turnout in these elections is low — a consistent feature of local elections. While it’s too early for full figures, we’re not seeing any major departure from the usual pattern of limited voter participation.

For those of us who have stayed up all night closely watching results filter in, it’s easy to forget that much of the electorate remain uninterested with a set of elections which, as we know, are so important to our daily lives.
1/5/25 | 21:57

As the polls close
– Jonathan Carr-West

The polls are about to close and we owe immense thanks to the dedicated electoral staff that enabled today’s local elections, the bedrock of our democracy. However, their crucial, demanding work, often in tough conditions, requires more than gratitude. As outlined in our latest research, electoral administrators need the resources, support, and respect to continue this essential service.

And, while the national implications of these results will be discussed in the hours and days ahead, we know that these local elections are a vital pillar for our democracy – not just a litmus test for Westminster fortunes.

It is these elections that determine the local leaders that impact our daily lives. Amidst declining trust in national politicians (only 29% trust them), local politicians are trusted nearly twice as much. This means that if we are to rebuild trust in our politics, then local government offers us the best platform from which to do so

1/5/25 | 18:00

What is a combined authority?

There are four combined authority mayors up for election this year – including two newly created posts – and the Government is committed to expanding their coverage across England. But what exactly is a combined authority? Simply put, it is an institution formed by a group of councils joining up to make policy decisions that affect all of their areas – such as transport networks or regional business policies. They were introduced under the Coalition government, and come into force when a group of councils agree a devolution deal with central government. Most of these bodies have a mayor, who is directly elected to lead the combined authority. We’ve got a lot more detail on the nuts and bolts of combined authorities and this year’s elections in the article below. We will be digging into what they mean for local government over the coming days and months.

➡️ What is a combined authority?

1/5/25 | 11:55 

The impact of the Elections Act 2022

Elections: another essential service – the keystone of our democratic system – that is delivered by local government. A huge thank you today to local government elections staff for everything you do to support our democracy, both on big election days like today and throughout the year.

Electoral services have had to respond to a number of big changes since the introduction of the 2022 Elections Act, increasing pressure on an already stretched and under-resourced service. In this article, Peter Stanyon, Chief Executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA), explains how these changes have been bedding in and what comes next for the election process in this country.

🆕 Elections after the Elections Act and beyond – Peter Stanyon

1/5/25 | 09:38

Local election matter for all sorts of reasons

This year’s set of local elections in England are easy to overlook, given that they are much reduced in number. But they are hugely important and not just because they are about choices that will have a significant impact on local places and residents’ lives.

These elections are set against a backdrop of the biggest local government reorganisation (LGR) and devolution programme for a generation. There will be a lot of focus on what the results tell us about the changing political landscape, with particular attention paid to the mayoral elections and the fortunes of Reform. But what the elections also provide are lessons about how residents view the institution of local government, which are crucial when considering the creation of the proposed new structures.

Our annual pre-election polling on public attitudes to local government – carried out with Ipsos UK – painted a complex picture. There is recognition of the impact local authorities have on our everyday lives but also a lack of trust in councils and councillors. There is both a persistent lack of understanding about the work of councils yet also a great appetite for more information and involvement. Explore the full findings.

We are still waiting for the final results

The East of England only had two councils up for election this year – both counties and both, in their own way, important tests of the major parties.

In Cambridgeshire, the Liberal Democrats aimed to change their current coalition to a full majority, and in that they succeeded. With a razor-thin majority of 1 seat, they now hold 31 of the council’s 61 seats, and will now govern as a majority for the first time in the council’s history (which has only ever been Conservative or No Overall Control until now).

Hertfordshire, on the other hand, was a test for the Conservatives. They had a healthy majority, but inevitably suffered heavy losses to both the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK, with their presence on the council down from 46 to 22 of the 78 seats. The council is now under No Overall Control, and the Liberal Democrats are the largest party with 31 seats.

Although there were only a handful of elections in the North East, the results remain incredibly significant.

As was the case before the election, Northumberland County Council remains under No Overall Control. However, both the Conservatives (-10) and Labour (-12) took heavy losses, with Reform UK, gaining 23 seats on the council.

Prior to the election, Labour held the largest number of councillors on Durham County Council), but the multiparty coalition that governed this No Overall Control council has been substituted outright by the sweeping force of Reform UK, who won an astounding 65 seats out of a total of 98. Reform held 0 seats in the previous administration, so this result is truly one of the most remarkable outcomes of yesterday’s polls.

The sole authority in the North West with elections this year was Lancashire County Council, where the Conservatives had held control since 2017. Owing to the very modest majority commanded by the incumbents, Conservative control was always going to be vulnerable. However, it was extraordinarily overturned by Reform UK, who won 53 of the 84 seats, with the Conservatives down from 48 to a mere 8. Labour too suffered heavy losses, losing 27 of their 32 seats, while Green and the Liberal Democrats made marginal gains.

In Oxfordshire County Council, the state of play going into these elections was that the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats were all within a few seats of one another. It was thus a decidedly difficult result to call. Ultimately, however, Oxfordshire is significant in that it is one of the few results where a party other than Reform has won overall control of a council. With 36 of the 69 seats on the council, and the Tories down from 25 to 5, the marginal majority is a triumph for Ed Davey’s party, whose successes today have been more limited than those of Reform, but greater than other mainstream parties.

Kent County Council, with 62 of the available 81 seats, was the Conservative Party’s council to lose, but no one could have foreseen the scale at which this council changed political control. From 62 seats to 5, the Tories have been wiped out in a traditionally Conservative area. Reform UK won by a landslide here, from 0 seats to a whopping 57.

Finally, the unitary council of Buckinghamshire – the least competitive of all the councils in England with elections this year. Before the elections, the Conservatives held 105 of the 147 seats on the council, and the next biggest party, the Liberal Democrats, held only 13. However, significant boundary changes, which resulted in a notably slimmer elected body of 97 councillors, mean that any precedent is no longer strictly comparable. While 87 of the council’s 97 seats have been declared, it is at the time of writing unclear whether the Conservatives will regain control of the authority, or it will end up under No Overall Control.

Significant gains by Reform UK, Liberal Democrat and Green in Gloucestershire County Council overturned the moderate majority held by the Conservative Party. Down from 30 seats to 6 of the 55 on the council, it was not a good night for Kemi Badenoch’s Party.

In the last Cornwall Council elections, the Conservatives won a majority, but after a series of resignations and defections, the unitary authority has been under No Overall Control for several months. This year, however, the Conservatives were by no means close to repeating this feat, and severe losses to Independent, Liberal Democrat and Reform UK candidates mean that the region will continue to be governed under No Overall Control, though with different parties at the helm.

Wiltshire was another key defence for the Conservatives, who held 61 of the 98 seats on the council prior to these elections. However, gains by the Liberal Democrats mean that they are now the largest party in the elected body, though they are just short of a majority and the council will thus be governed under No Overall Control.

The Conservatives also saw heavy losses in Devon with their prior majority of 39 seats reduced to a mere 7 in the 60 seat council. 18 seats apiece to Reform and the Liberal Democrats means that the council joins the long list of authorities which now have no majority rule.

Before today, Shropshire was the only of the four councils up for election in the West Midlands was not under a Conservative majority. Now there are none, and a triumph for the Lib Dems means that they now govern the council as a majority, making significant gains from the Conservatives. Reform’s advancement here is more limited than its neighbours, but is still undeniably present.

It was thought that Worcestershire County Council was likely to stay under Conservative control after these elections. However, with the Conservatives losing 33 of their 45 seats on the council, and Reform gaining 27, the contest resulted in a No Overall Control council. The Greens and Liberal Democrats made marginal gains here, while there is a notable absence of the Labour Party, who won just 2 of the council’s 57 seats.

In Warwickshire County Council, the Conservatives went into this election as the biggest party by far, yet their control of 42 of the 57 council seats has been reduced to just 9 seats. They are now the third largest party in the council, behind Reform and the Liberal Democrats, who won 23 and 14 seats, respectively.

Finally, Staffordshire County Council, where Reform emerged triumphant. The Conservatives held 56 of the 62 seats on the council before this election, but Reform UK has snatched up the overwhelming majority of them. Nigel Farage’s party now holds 49 of the 62 council seats, with the former incumbents a distant second with 10.

There was only one ‘ordinary’ council election in Yorkshire and the Humber this year: the elections in Doncaster which is in the unusual position of electing its full council and directly elected mayor at the same time. While the Labour party successfully defended the mayoralty, the council was taken comfortably by Reform. Doncaster – Ed Miliband town and the only Labour defence of the night – will now have a Reform UK council.

If you are a recently elected councillor or an officer supporting them, we want to help you hit the ground running, develop your training and skills and take a deep dive into the issues that matter most to local government.

By signing up on the website today, newly elected councillors at LGIU member councils can have instant access to all LGIU resources.

If you’re not with a member council, you will still find plenty to inspire you on this page and you can sign up too and receive a free weekly newsletter plus access to a limited amount of local government content.