Election results so far at a glance - and what's still to come

Reform UK has made notable progress in early council election results, drawing support from Labour and the Conservatives.

The elections across Scotland, Wales, and 136 English councils are the largest set since the 2024 general election and represent a critical assessment for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The complete outcomes will be available later as many councils continue their counting process overnight, with announcements expected on Friday, alongside results from the Senedd and the Scottish Parliament.

Early Reform gains

Reform UK is gaining seats in traditionally Labour-heavy regions in northern England and the Midlands, particularly in cities like Wigan, Bolton, Salford, and Halton.

In Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch, and Tamworth, Labour has lost control of the councils amid a surge of support for Reform.

At the last election for these councils, Reform was still a nascent party, which limits their majority control to areas where all council seats are being contested.

For many councils counting today, only a third of the seats were due for election, indicating that the party’s best opportunity to gain power may arise later in the day.

Tories lose ground

Reform has also attained gains at the Conservatives' expense in areas such as Brentwood, Tamworth, and North East Lincolnshire.

While the Tories have overall lost seats, they have experienced successes in locations like Harlow in Essex, where they maintained control of the council.

The Conservative Party now faces challenges in reclaiming Westminster and Wandsworth councils in London, which were once their flagship councils for decades before being won by Labour in 2022.

The Tories remain under threat from Reform UK in upcoming county council elections across areas like Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk, which will announce results later.

Additionally, in parts of southern England such as Surrey and Sussex, the Liberal Democrats may pose the most significant threat to the Conservatives.

Mixed night for Lib Dems

The Liberal Democrats experienced a mixed batch of results overnight.

They gained control of Stockport and Portsmouth, where they were the largest party previously, taking seats away from Labour.

However, in Hull, the gains made by Reform UK led to the Liberal Democrats losing control of the council.

The party is hopeful for better outcomes later as they aim to seize control from the Conservatives in Hampshire and Surrey.

Greens eye gains in London

The Green Party of England and Wales has managed to secure some seats overnight in areas such as Salford and Exeter.

Their primary target locations are in London, where they believe they have the greatest potential for winning control of councils in Hackney and Lewisham, with results from these areas expected later.

Other council results still to come

Reform UK aims to achieve additional gains in later-declaring areas of London, including the outer boroughs of Bromley and Barking & Dagenham.

For the Conservatives, Barnet in north London stands out as another flagship council they aspire to reclaim from Labour.

Elsewhere, Reform UK is targeting former Labour strongholds in the north of England and the Midlands, including Sunderland, Gateshead, and Walsall.

Notably, in Birmingham, where the Labour Party currently governs, the evolving political landscape is evident, with all five major parties engaged. Polls indicate substantial support for pro-Palestinian independents, which could result in the city operating under no overall control for the first time in over a decade.

Reform and Plaid battle in Wales

In Wales, Labour, which has dominated Westminster and Cardiff Bay elections for over a century, is facing the prospect of diminishing influence.

Multiple party sources have conveyed to the BBC their expectations of Labour losing its standing in the Senedd election.

Discontent with the ruling party has led to a competitive race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK for the top position.

The Greens are optimistic about securing their first Senedd seat, while the Welsh Liberal Democrats aim to increase their representation from a solitary seat.

Despite not traditionally being a stronghold for the Conservatives, they appear poised for significant losses in the region.

SNP aims for fifth term in Scotland

Similarly, Labour is anticipated to suffer substantial losses in Scotland, where the Scottish National Party is targeting an unprecedented fifth consecutive term.

Reform UK, which currently lacks representation in Holyrood, is contesting Labour for second place, while the Conservatives are also expected to see a decline in seats.

Both the Greens and the Liberal Democrats seek to make gains amid a fragmentation of support for the dominant parties.