England: Reform UK breaks through, Greens rise sharply
In England, the biggest political winner was Reform UK. The party made a dramatic breakthrough in local government, gaining more than a thousand council seats and taking control of 14 councils, according to reported results. The Green Party also achieved a major advance, gaining hundreds of council seats, taking control of several councils and winning mayoralties, including important urban contests. (The Guardian)
The result was a serious blow to both traditional governing parties. Labour lost ground in many of its former strongholds, while the Conservatives continued to suffer losses in areas where they had previously been dominant. The English result showed that the old Labour-Conservative political structure is weakening, with Reform UK, the Greens and the Liberal Democrats all benefiting from voter dissatisfaction.
Wales: Plaid Cymru wins a historic victory
The most historic result came in Wales, where Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party in the Senedd for the first time. Plaid won 43 seats, ahead of Reform UK with 34, while Welsh Labour collapsed to 9 seats. The Welsh Conservatives won 7 seats, the Greens entered the Senedd with 2 seats, and the Liberal Democrats won 1 seat. (The Guardian)
This result ended Labour’s long dominance in Welsh politics. For the first time since devolution began in 1999, Labour will not form the Welsh government. Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth is now positioned to become First Minister, most likely leading a minority government.
Scotland: SNP wins again, but without a majority
In Scotland, the Scottish National Party won the election and remained the largest party in Holyrood, securing 58 seats. However, the SNP fell short of the 65 seats needed for an outright majority. Labour and Reform UK tied for second place with 17 seats each, followed by the Scottish Greens with 15, the Conservatives with 12, and the Liberal Democrats with 10. (SPICe Spotlight | Solas air SPICe)
The result means the SNP is likely to continue in government, but as a minority administration. Scotland’s Parliament is now more fragmented, and Reform UK’s entry with 17 seats marks a major change in Scottish politics.
Northern Ireland: no comparable election on 7 May
There was no Northern Ireland Assembly or local government election comparable to the contests in England, Scotland and Wales on 7 May 2026. Therefore, there is no Northern Ireland election result to report for that date. The main UK-wide political story came from Great Britain: England’s local elections, Scotland’s Holyrood election and Wales’s Senedd election. (electoralcommission.org.uk)
Overall result: a new multiparty Britain
The 7 May 2026 elections showed a profound transformation of British politics. In England, Reform UK became the main disruptive force in local government. In Wales, Plaid Cymru achieved a once-in-a-generation victory. In Scotland, the SNP survived as the largest party, but with a weaker mandate. Labour suffered major defeats across all three voting nations, while the Conservatives also struggled to regain relevance.
The result points to a new political era in the United Kingdom: more fragmented, less predictable, and increasingly shaped by nationalist, populist, liberal and green alternatives to the traditional two-party system. #100NewsTV