Reform UK Wins 1,200+ Seats: Starmer Refuses to Resign After Labour's Worst Loss in Decades

# Reform UK Wins 1,200+ Seats: Starmer Refuses to Resign After Labour's Worst Loss in Decades

> **Quick answer:** Reform UK won more than 1,200 council seats and control of 13 English councils in the May 8, 2026 local elections — the largest local election gains by any party in modern British history. Labour lost 1,300+ seats and 35 councils. Keir Starmer refused to resign, saying "I'm not going to walk away and plunge the country into chaos." Gilt markets breathed a cautious sigh of relief, but betting markets now price a 71.5% probability Starmer is gone by year end.

The final count is in. What began as a bad night for Keir Starmer became a historic one. Reform UK's 2026 local election results confirmed a seismic realignment in British politics — one that has left Labour without its traditional heartlands, Conservatives fighting for survival, and a reformed two-party system that no longer exists.

> **This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personal financial decisions.**

## The Final Numbers: Reform UK's Historic Seat Surge

The full results across England's 136 councils told a story no single early tally could capture. Reform UK gained **more than 1,200 council seats** and won control of **13 councils**, including Essex County Council (previously Conservative-held for 25 years), Suffolk County Council, Havering in outer London — Reform's first London borough — and Newcastle-under-Lyme.