Reform UK has taken control of St Helens Council in a major Merseyside political shift. Labour suffered losses across the region, while other parties made gains in Knowsley and Sefton.
Local election results across the Liverpool City Region have delivered a significant political shift, bringing about notable gains for Reform UK and impacting the standing of the Labour Party in key councils. The outcomes have effectively redrawn the political map in several areas.
In St Helens, Reform UK has secured control of the council following an all-out election. Labour, which previously held the council, saw its position reduced to two seats. For outgoing council leader Anthony Burns, who also lost his own seat in Blackbrook, the result was a difficult one to accept. "Politics can be cruel sometimes," Burns said, adding that voters "lend you their vote and sometimes it can be taken away. That's democracy."
In the wider City Region, the results were more mixed for the Labour Party. While they retained overall control of the Knowsley Council, they experienced losses to Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats, and independent candidates, even as they managed gains in other areas. Graham Morgan, the council leader, expressed his disappointment over the loss of excellent councillors, suggesting that national political trends may have influenced the local results.
Sefton also saw Labour retain control of the council, though with a reduced majority following gains by the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, the Greens, and independent candidates. The Conservatives lost all their remaining seats in the region. Marion Atkinson, the Labour group leader, acknowledged the emotional weight of holding her seat in what was the first all-out election in Sefton in over 20 years.
Reflecting on the broader results, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram warned that Labour cannot afford to ignore the message being sent by the electorate. These developments mark a period of transition as local governments navigate a new and more fragmented political landscape.
