Election

England council results

Number of councillors

92 of 136 councils

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Summary

  • Live results and reaction to the local elections across Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes

  • Counts are taking place in Milton Keynes, and for a third of seats at Watford Borough Council

  • Little changed at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, with Labour retaining its position as the largest party, but no party winning overall control

  • Labour retains control of Stevenage Borough Council

  • The Liberal Democrats hold St Albans City and District Council, with 19 of its councillors elected

  • No party has won overall control on Three Rivers District Council

  • Broxbourne declared its result overnight, where the Conservatives held on to the council

  • Keir Starmer says he's "not going to walk away" after early English council results show Reform picking up seats in former Labour heartlands - here's where things currently stand across the country

Live Reporting

Updates by Danny Fullbrook, with Amy Holmes, Martin Heath, Laura Coffey and Nicola Haseler at election counts. Edited by Christiana Bishop

  1. New faces join Reform

    Nicola Haseler
    Senior journalist reporter, Stevenage

    There was a crucial ward on Stevenage Borough Council for Labour to hold on to – Old Town.

    Mason Humberstone, a former Labour councillor on the authority who defected to Reform UK last year, was hoping to win as a Reform candidate after standing for the party in Thursday's ballot.

    It was a close call, with 509 votes to Reform and 542 to Labour.

    Kevin Bonavia, the Labour MP for Stevenage, said: "Residents got to see what he was about and they rejected him at the first opportunity.”

    A man wearing a red Labour rosette in a large hallNicola Haseler/BBC

    Labour MP Kevin Bonavia said a Reform candidate who defected from Labour was rejected by the electorate

    Nine wards were won by Reform, including Roebuck, which 26-year-old Liam Morrell Phillips won.

    “What today has proved is people want change. It’s important we get younger people involved in politics, a lot of young people say, 'What’s the point in voting?'."

    “Am I the future face of Reform? We’ll have to wait and see!”

    Liam Morrell Phillips wears a Reform UK rosette and smiles at the cameraNicola Haseler/BBC

    Liam Morrell Phillips stressed the importance of getting young people interested in politics.

  2. Liberal Democrats hold St Albans City and District Council

    Danny Fullbrook
    Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

    The Liberal Democrats have held on to St Albans City and District Council, the home of the parliamentary party's deputy leader Daisy Cooper.

    The party had 19 councillors elected, meaning its current total on the council sits at 44.

    Two Conservative councillors were elected, bringing the party's total to five.

    The rest of the authority is made of three Green Party councillors, two Independent councillors and two Labour councillors.

  3. Welwyn deputy leader 'really grateful' for keeping her seat

    Martin Heath
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties

    Sandrini Bonfante with long brown hair wearing a blue top and grey sweater smiling at the camera in front of Welwyn Hatfield council display boards.Martin Heath/BBC

    Sandreni Bonfante held on to her Welham Green and Hatfield South seat

    Sandreni Bonfante, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader of Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, says she is really grateful for the opportunity to "keep on delivering what people have asked for on the doorsteps".

    Labour is still the largest party on the authority, but the Liberal Democrats kept all of its seats, making it likely that the Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition will remain in place.

  4. Labour holds Stevenage

    Nicola Haseler
    BBC News

    Labour remains the largest party on Stevenage Borough Council with 22 councillors and Reform UK is the second-largest group with 10.

    Reform won nine seats, Labour took three and Liberal Democrats took two.

  5. Three Rivers District Council remains in no overall control

    Laura Coffey
    Political reporter, in Rickmansworth

    People gathered at a local election count inside a large hall.Laura Coffey/BBC

    On Three Rivers District Council the Conservatives have made three gains overall - taking one seat from Labour in South Oxhey and two from the Liberal Democrats.

    Alongside that the party has held on to four of its existing seats.

    The Liberal Democrats have held five seats, while the Green Party has retained one.

    Reform UK has not won any seats, but the party has finished second or third in most wards.

    The council remains in no overall control.

  6. Liberal Democrat Watford mayor wins third term

    Peter Taylor has been re-elected as mayor of Watford for his third term.

    The Liberal Democrat took a 52.52% majority with 14,583 votes.

    Mark Dixon, of Reform UK, is in second place with 4,972 votes, a 17.91% share.

    The turnout for this election is 36.96% of the electorate.

  7. What issues might have affected voting in Hertfordshire?

    Martin Heath
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties

    It is widely accepted that local elections are really referendums on national issues, so the UK response to the war in Iran, the Peter Mandelson row and the cost of living could be key issues.

    However, local factors could play a part.

    Recent debates on social media have included the county's record on services for children with disabilities, 20mph zones and town centre regeneration.

    Some parties have campaigned on issues even closer to home - including overdevelopment of local areas, saving the green belt and helping local businesses.

    A street of two-storey houses, a mixture of detached and terraced housing. There is a road passing by, on which several cars are parked. In the foregound is a 20mph zone sign. There are trees to the right.

    There are several 20mph zones in parts of Hertfordshire

  8. What is the current political make up in Milton Keynes?

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties

    A multi-storey brick office building bearing the sign "MK Milton Keynes City Council", viewed from street level on a clear day. The facade features repeating vertical window recesses and metal railings along each level.Amy Holmes/BBC

    Labour has had full control of Milton Keynes City Council for two years, having previously been in an alliance with the Liberal Democrats as, at the time, it did not have another councillors to take full control (a party needs half of the councillors plus one).

    As it stands, the party led by Pete Marland for 12 years (although he is standing down) have 30 councillors (out of 57), while the Liberal Democrat Party is the official opposition with 18 and the Conservatives have nine.

    The Green Party currently has no councillors - in fact, it has only had one in the history of the authority - while Reform UK also has none, but both parties are tipped to make gains in the city.

  9. Reform wins wards in Stevenage

    Nicola Haseler
    Senior journalist reporter, Stevenage

    A hall filled with tables with people sat at them. Signs for parts of Stevenage are on display near each table such as "Roebuck" and "Longmeadow".Nicola Haseler/BBC

    So far six wards in Stevenage Borough Council have declared and four have gone to Reform UK.

    Labour held on to the Bedwell ward, which mean it has the one seat it needed to keep control of the authority, and the Liberal Democrats took one seat.

    Stevenage has been a Labour run council since 1974, when the council was formed.

    At the time of the council's formation, Harold Wilson was prime minister, a stamp was about 4p and a pint of beer was 22p - so it would have been a seismic shift if Labour had lost control of the council for the first time in the authority's history.

    There have also only been three council leaders in those 52 years – all Labour.

    Correction: We previously reported Reform UK had won five seats, but the party won four

  10. No change in Welwyn Hatfield

    The final result is in at the Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council count - and very little has changed.

    Labour is still the largest party on the authority, having lost two seats to Reform UK but gaining one from the Green Party.

    The Liberal Democrats kept all of its seats, making it likely that the Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition will remain in place.

    The Conservative Party still have the 12 seats it had before the election.

    Larry Crofton with brown hair tied at the back, and a short beard, wearing a brown fleece, and Lucy Musk, with medium-length blue hair wearing a black sweater over a pink top with a blue necklace. There is a queue of people heading for lunch behind them.Martin Heath/BBC

    Green councillors Larry Crofton and Lucy Musk smile bravely after both losing their seats

  11. Reform UK 'buoyant' over chances in Milton Keynes

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties

    A man in a suit wearing a “Reform UK” rosette stands overlooking a busy hall where election staff sort ballot papers at long tables below.Amy Holmes/BBC

    Reform UK are strongly tipped to win their first councillor in Milton Keynes this afternoon, and based on overnight results are being backed to perhaps be the largest party on the authority.

    Party spokesperson Mark Arnull, who is leader of West Northants Council said: "I'm looking at boxes and I'm seeing Reform UK with quite big piles. So I think the candidates are buoyant, I'm buoyant, the party's buoyant, I'm excited to see what we can do here today."

    In terms of results he added: "It's slightly difficult to call but I'm looking around the room, I'm seeing the right piles in the right areas at the moment and our candidates have been out on the streets they've been knocking doors and all the right things that we do everywhere around the country."

  12. Nervous anticipation in Watford, says Liberal Democrat mayor

    Matthew Lockwood
    Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

    A man and woman posing together with smiles inside a large hall. Bother wearing yellow lib dem rosettes.Peter Taylor

    Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Peter Taylor and the former mayor baroness Dorothy Thornhill

    Peter Taylor, the sitting Liberal Democrat mayor of Watford who is hoping to win a third successive term, said: “The mood here is the usual feeling of nervous anticipation.

    “The Watford Liberal Democrat team seems to be doing well.

    “As elsewhere, Labour and the Conservatives are struggling, Reform UK are a threat in some parts of the town.”

  13. Analysis

    Could this election lead to regime change in Hertfordshire?

    Martin Heath
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties

    Although the six councils with elections this year are only putting a third of their seats up for election, four of them could see a change in control.

    The districts of Three Rivers and Welwyn Hatfield had no party with an overall majority, with the former relying on ad hoc cooperation and the latter on an occasionally fragile coalition.

    One or two extra seats for larger parties could result in a change of control.

    St Albans, run by the Liberal Democrats, and Labour-controlled Stevenage both have parties in overall control, but enough seats are being contested to make a change of regime mathematically possible.

    Modern town centre, showing a two-storey concrete building to the left, a tall square segment sign and trees in the background, and a sculpture in bronze of a woman carrying a baby in the foreground.Ben Schofield/BBC

    Labour might lose its majority in Stevenage for the first time since 1973

  14. What are the election issues in Milton Keynes?

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties

    A person stands in front of a colourful exhibition backdrop reading "The Spectrum Place Hub", featuring bright cosmic and abstract imagery. The individual wears pink-framed glasses and a patterned outfit, with text on the display describing a walk-through immersive experience.Amy Holmes/BBC

    Parents like Ellie have told the BBC that SEND provision in Milton Keynes should be a key priority

    Milton Keynes is growing fast with more than 300,000 residents - and that figure could rise to 400,000 by 2040.

    The government announced in March that the city would become a "renewed new town" with another 40,000 homes being built by 2029.

    Milton Keynes City Council is well ahead of government targets to build 1,720 houses a year (2,110 were constructed 2024-25), although just 7% of those in central Milton Keynes were affordable housing.

    However there are concerns from politicians and residents that the growth is happening too quickly, with infrastructure struggling to cope with the increase in residents.

    Another problem to solve is special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision, as the number of children with an Education, Health and Care Plans has more than doubled in the last decade - and the last Ofsted and Care Quality Commission inspection said the authority needed to improve.

    The council's SEND budget is £73.3m for 2026-27, up from £51m in 2021-22. All political parties seem to agree it needs to be fixed, but how they do that tends to vary.

  15. 'Nine councillors in Milton Keynes is the best result'

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties

    A woman is standing and facing the camera. She is wearing a dark blue blazer over a light-coloured top, along with a visible lanyard and credential badge hanging from the neck. The badge includes partially readable text, with “Candidate” and “Counting Agent” visible, suggesting a role connected to an organised process or formal event. The individual is positioned slightly off-centre and occupies a prominent portion of the frame.Amy Holmes/BBC

    Conservative opposition leader Shazna Muzammil said she hoped her party held on to its nine councillors

    The Conservatives are the smallest party on Milton Keynes City Council going into this election, with nine councillors - but as recently as 2022 it was the largest.

    Shazna Muzammil, the group's leader, said at the count: "Keeping the nine [councillors] is the best result. Anything more than that is a fantastic result for us."

    With Reform UK tipped to potentially become the largest party in Milton Keynes, Muzammil was asked if her party could form an alliance to run the authority with the party.

    She said: "I'll wait for them to knock on the door and then I'll have a think about what we want to do. We want to get through this campaign and focus on making sure our candidates get over the line."

  16. Turnout 44.84% in the Three Rivers district

    Laura Coffey
    Political reporter, Rickmansworth

    Stephen Giles-Medhurst wearing a yellow jumper is smiling at the camera.Laura Coffey/BBC

    Voter turnout in the Three Rivers district was 44.84%.

    Stephen Giles-Medhurst, the Lib Dem leader of Three Rivers Council, said that figure is good for democracy.

    The results have not been declared yet, but he believes Reform UK could do well in many of the authority's wards, similar to the party's results across the country.

    He says he expects it will be tricky for all parties, but Reform could take at least one seat, possibly more.

  17. Lib Dems will fill gaps, says St Albans MP

    Danny Fullbrook
    Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire

    Daisy Cooper is the MP for St Albans and deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats.

    The Lib Dems run St Albans City and District Council and with only a third of wards up for election this time around, that is not expected to change.

    When speaking on the BBC News Channel, Cooper said the party is seeing strong results in areas where it already has sitting MPs, such as St Albans - even as Reform UK makes gains elsewhere.

    She said: "Reform UK is peddling a really distinct form of divisive politics and the Conservative Party are chasing them in that direction. As a result there's a very distinctive political space for Liberal Democrats and we're determined to fill it.

    "What we can see in these local elections is we are expanding our footprint in the areas where we've already won in a general election and we're building our footprint ready for the next general election too."

    Daisy Cooper wearing a yellow blazer while sat in the BBC news studios. She is smiling looking to the left of the camera

  18. Good day so far for Lib Dems in Welwyn Hatfield

    The Liberal Democrats have held on to their seats in Peartree and Welham Green and Hatfield South, with slightly reduced voter numbers.

    The Conservatives kept both of their seats in the Welwyn East ward.

    The Reform UK have scored their second victory, with Callum Powell taking Hollybush ward from Labour.

    Three Conservative candidates, two men and a woman, applauding following the result in Welwyn East. A counter is sitting at a desk behind them.Martin Heath/BBC

    The Conservatives have held on to their seats in Welwyn East

  19. Reform UK take first seat at Welwyn Hatfield

    Martin Heath
    BBC Three Counties

    Reform UK have scored their first victory at the count for Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.

    John Redmond took Haldens ward with 632 votes, pushing Labour into second place with 513.

    The Liberal Democrats have held onto Peartree Ward with their candidate, Duncan Jones, collecting 701 votes.

    A group of candidates assembled at a small podium at an election countMartin Heath/BBC

    Candidates gathered for the first result of the day in Welwyn Hatfield

  20. Analysis

    What effect has the plan for a council shake-up had on this election?

    Martin Heath
    BBC Three Counties

    The government's plans to scrap Hertfordshire's councils have already had quite an impact on politics in Welwyn Hatfield.

    The council is controlled by a joint Labour and Liberal Democrat administration, which almost fell apart over the proposals.

    The full council and the cabinet clashed over how many unitary councils should be created, and over whether this year's elections should go ahead.

    The coalition agreement just managed to survive after the Labour leader resigned, but the squabbling may have influenced voters.

    A Welwyn Garden City sign, showing a picture of a Elizabethan knot garden. The sign is standing on a grass verge which hosts some small shrubs. There is a road to the right and a path to the left, lined by trees and a low wooden fence.Brian Farmer/BBC

    Behind the charm of one of England's first garden cities, there has been some unseemly political bickering