What's behind surge in support for Reform and Greens across England? Five key takeaways

"Reform gained 1,349 council seats and control of 14 councils, while the Green party won 376 council seats, control of five councils, and took two mayoralties. With both insurgent parties making inroads, what is behind the surge in their support? Reform has its largest vote share in more deprived areas. So far, Reform's vote in English council seats has grown the most in areas with greater socioeconomic deprivation, early analysis shows."

"The party received 30% of votes in the most deprived parts of England, compared with 20% in the least deprived parts. Reform did better in areas with more over-65s, while Greens did better in younger areas. Greens did best in areas with fewer people aged 65 or over, while Reform's vote saw greater gains in areas with more retirees."

"Wards where less than 10% of people were over the age of 65 saw Labour take 32%, and Greens take 31% of the vote, while Reform, Conservatives and Lib Dems took about 11% each. In the small number of council wards where 40% or more people were over the age of 65, the reverse happened, with Reform on 31%, and the Conservatives on 26%."

"Reform did best in less-educated areas. Reform had larger vote share gains in wards where fewer people had two or more A-levels while the Green party did better, on average, in more educated areas. Reform had almost 40% of the vote in wards where less than 40% of people had two or more A-levels far more than any"

Labour and the Conservatives lost ground in England’s local elections, with Reform UK and the Green party making major gains. Reform won 1,349 council seats and took control of 14 councils, while the Greens won 376 council seats and controlled five councils, also taking two mayoralties. The results show a more fragmented political system. Reform’s vote share grew most in more socioeconomically deprived areas, reaching 30% in the most deprived parts versus 20% in the least deprived parts. Reform performed better in areas with more over-65s, while the Greens performed better in younger areas. Reform also gained more in less-educated wards, while the Greens did better in more educated areas.

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