Conservatives Lose 300+ Seats to Reform UK in Locals

Conservatives suffered heavy losses in England's local elections, forfeiting more than 300 council seats and control of several authorities, including traditional strongholds in Essex, Hampshire, and Suffolk, where Reform UK made substantial gains.

Results declared on Friday showed the party losing control of Essex County Council for the first time in 25 years, with Reform securing 53 seats after previously holding none. In Suffolk, Reform won 41 seats to capture the council, as Conservatives dropped 21 or 40 seats depending on the count. Hampshire County Council also slipped from Conservative control for the first time in nearly 30 years, with the party losing 29 seats mainly to Reform and Liberal Democrats. In Havering, an outer London borough, Conservatives lost all 23 seats they defended to Reform.

The losses extended to other southern English areas long considered Conservative bastions. Party officials noted these seats were last contested during a period of high popularity in 2021 or 2022, but the scale remained significant amid a surge for Reform UK led by Nigel Farage.

Offsetting some defeats, Conservatives regained Westminster and Wandsworth councils in London, areas...