May 7 saw elections in some UK councils and in Scotland and Wales.
In England Reform were the biggest winner. They gained 1,454 seats, the former industrial areas of Tyneside, West and South Yorkshire being notable in Reform winning control of the councils of Barnsley, St Helens, Sunderland and Wakefield.
Wales saw Reform gain 34 Senedd seats, but it was the left nationalist Plaid Cymru that won sufficient to form a minority government. Both Labour and the Conservatives were the major losers particularly in areas where coal and steel had dominated local economies.
Scotland showed less change, the Scottish National Party retained their dominance, but they were pulled in again by Reform who won 17 seats. Despite them running a reasonably homogenous campaign, they picked up many white working class voters building on their wins and increased vote shares seen at the 2024 election.
Dr Maike Dinger and Prof. Darren Lilleker are included in the Scottish Election Analysis exploring their campaign (https://www.electionanalysis.uk/scottish-election-analysis-2026/section-1-parties-and-the-campaign/reforms-courting-of-scotlands-post-industrial-communities/), there are also contributions from Dr Dinger on the Scottish constitutional question (https://www.electionanalysis.uk/scottish-election-analysis-2026/section-2-news-media-and-journalism/negotiations-of-the-constitutional-question/) and our partner Dr James Morrison and collaborators on the battle for voters’ trust (https://www.electionanalysis.uk/scottish-election-analysis-2026/section-2-news-media-and-journalism/the-battle-for-trust-in-the-holyrood-election/).
The results indicate significant dissatisfaction with parties who have traditionally dominated British politics, with Reform being the main beneficiary, although both the Green and Liberal Democrats made notable gains also. The apathy with national politics is palpable within our conversations with residents of similar communities. The years of neglect have turned them away from most political institutions. It is the populist right, in the shape of Reform, that is cutting through in these communities and it is hard to see this trend being reversed.
