Full Breakdown
Reform UK’s Local Election Surge Topples Labour in Barnsley
5/15/2026, 3:40:52 AM
Reform UK Takes Barnsley Council
In the 2026 local elections Reform UK won all three Hoyland Milton seats, ending Labour’s 50-year control of Barnsley Council. Turnout rose from 25 % in 2024 to 38 % in 2026, and every one of the borough’s 63 seats was contested for the first time in two decades.
Background to Labour’s Collapse
Labour had governed Barnsley since the 1970s and secured a landslide general-election win in July 2024. The same year the party lost almost 1,500 councillors nationwide, a trend that continued in 2025 and culminated in the 2026 defeats. Reform UK and the Greens have fragmented the historic two-party system.
Data and Immediate Impact
Reform added 1,453 seats, taking control of 14 new councils and securing a quarter of the national vote. Labour’s national equivalent vote fell to 15 %, a loss of 59 % of the seats it defended. In Barnsley, footfall reached nine million in 2025 after a £210 million Glassworks investment. Analyses differ on Reform’s vote share—one source records 27 % (down 5 points), another 14 % (up from 7 % in 2025).
Official Statements & Responses
Sir Keir Starmer warned that a leadership contest could create “chaos” for the government. Health Secretary Wes Streeting wrote, “It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election.” Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he hopes to return to Parliament to launch a leadership challenge. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner cautioned Labour risks becoming “a party of the well-off, not working people.”
Criticism of Labour and Local Sentiment
Residents blamed Labour’s record for the council loss, citing neglect of neighbourhood shopping areas and “inept” governance in London. Voters praised Reform’s visibility and expressed a desire for change on immigration and local services.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Psephologists Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher list Reform’s national vote share at 27 % (a 5-point drop) while another analysis puts it at 14 % (up from 7 % in 2025). Seat-gain figures also vary between “almost 1,400” and the precise 1,453 reported. No formal Reform UK policy statement on council governance appears in the coverage.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I've always voted for Conservative, and Reform are just brilliant around here in Barnsley.” — Gwen Strange, 70
- “ He does not want to reveal who he voted for but adds: "Labour are so inept at what they're doing in London that folks said, well we're not having anything to do with that, so to show their displeasure they've obviously voted for a different party which I think will be a disaster.” — Graham Swift, 88
- “It is now clear that you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election.” — Wes Streeting, Health Secretary (letter)
- “We are in danger of becoming a party of the well-off, not working people,” — Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister
What’s Next
Labour must secure 81 MP endorsements to trigger a leadership ballot, after which the NEC will set a timetable. Andy Burnham is expected to seek a parliamentary seat to qualify for a challenge. Reform UK will test its council record ahead of 2027 local elections, while the Greens aim to expand newly-won mayoralties.
