32 m. ago Streeting says Reform are real threat and may become Labour’s main rivals

Health secretary asks public to give government time as he calls Farage’s party a ‘serious opposition force’Politics live – latest updatesWes Streeting has said Reform is a real threat and could replace the Conservatives as the main opposition party by the next election, as he urged the public to give Labour the “benefit of the doubt”.The health secretary said Nigel Farage’s party was being treated as a “serious opposition force” after Reform’s success in the local elections, where it narrowly won a byelection from Labour and took 677 council seats, gaining control of 10 councils. Reform took most seats from the Conservatives, who lost 674, while Labour lost 187. Continue reading...

Events

9 h. ago Lib Dems laugh off 'party of posh Pimm's drinkers' jibe after taking control of councils in leafy 'Boden Belt'

The party celebrated wins across swathes of the Home Counties and southern England, and became the largest party in Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Wiltshire.

Politics

12 h. ago Trade union advises staff at newly christened Reform UK councils to sign up after jubilant Nigel Farage promised Trump

Mr Farage warned council staff working on diversity or climate change initiatives to seek 'alternative careers' after his party took control of Durham council.

Politics

19 h. ago Local elections in numbers: 677 new Reform councillors – while Labour gets no votes in some wards

The Independent’s data correspondent Alicja Hagopian crunches the numbers from this year’s local elections

Politics

24 h. ago Local elections 2025 mapped: Full results for every council and mayoral race

Reform swept up this year’s local elections, winning 677 seats across all contested councils. While the Lib Dems also saw success, the Tories and Labour faced devastating defeats

Politics

26 h. ago Local election results live: Badenoch sorry for Tory ‘bloodbath’ as Farage gloats Conservatives are finished

Reform takes control of 10 councils, snatches dramatic victory in Runcorn by-election and wins two mayoral contests

Politics

34 h. ago Reform revolution that could change Britain: Labour in shock, Tories lose every council they defended

In a stunning breakthrough, Reform seized control of a string of major councils across the country.

Events

35 h. ago Fight starts TODAY for Tories to win back trust: Bloodbath at polls but top Conservatives rally round leader as she vows to reverse party fortunes

An electoral bloodbath led to the Conservatives being wiped out across swathes of local authorities, losing more than 550 councillors and control of 14 councils.

Politics

40 h. ago Map: Where have Reform performed best in local council elections?

Results are still being counted, but Reform has already won majority control of seven councils and won hundreds of seats.

Politics

40 h. ago Lib Dems now ‘party of middle England’, says Davey as party makes gains

As the Tories faced a Reform UK surge in the North and parts of the Midlands, the Lib Dems put the squeeze on their vote further south.

Politics

42 h. ago Farage vows to ‘resist’ asylum hotels as Reform celebrates major gains

Mr Farage’s party has gained hundreds of seats and taken control of five councils.

Events

43 h. ago Full list of councils Reform control following local elections 2025

Reform has taken over a number of councils in the local elections - including Lancashire County Council

Politics

43 h. ago Farage warns council staff to look for other jobs after Reform takes control of Durham

Nigel Farage has warned council staff to look for other jobs after Reform took control of Durham.

Events

44 h. ago Farage hails Reform as ‘main opposition’ after gaining MP and councils

Reform UK has won Staffordshire and Lincolnshire councils from the Conservatives and taken control of Durham County Council.

Politics

45 h. ago Local elections 2025 full results: Reform gain new MP and control of first councils as Tories and Labour falter

Reform have made huge gains, beating Labour at the Runcorn by-election and seizing control of Staffordshire, Durham and Lincolnshire councils

Politics

45 h. ago Reform win control of first two councils, crushing the Conservatives

Nigel Farage's party has secured enough seats for a majority at Staffordshire County Council which the Conservatives had held

Politics

45 h. ago Reform UK win symbolic Labour area in bitter blow for Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer's Labour lost control of Durham council back in 2021 for the first time in a century - and now Reform UK candidates have won a majority

Politics

46 h. ago Reform avalanche sees Farage win control of first councils as voters punish Labour and Starmer bemoans 'disappointing' local elections

Nigel Farage's jubilant party now has a majority on Staffordshire County Council as a stunning set of results take shape.

Politics

46 h. ago Reform avalanche sees Farage win control of first council as voters punish Labour and Starmer bemoans 'disappointing' local elections

Nigel Farage's jubilant party now has a majority on Staffordshire County Council as a stunning set of results take shape.

Politics

64 h. ago Greene writes to Tory voters urging them to back Lib Dems following defection

But the Scottish Tories suggested the move could in fact boost support for them.

Politics