UK Local Council By-Elections and Postponed Polls: 25 June 2026
- Staff Correspondent
- Jun 26
- 2 min read
On Thursday 25 June 2026, a series of local council by-elections and postponed ward elections took place across parts of England and Wales. These were not a full round of local elections but rather targeted contests, many stemming from vacancies, resignations, deaths of candidates during the May 2026 polls, or other reasons.
Key Contests and Context for local elections this week
St Helens Borough Council (Merseyside): Elections in Haydock (by-election following Reform UK councillor resignation) and St Helens Town Centre (postponed from 7 May due to the death of a Reform UK candidate). Voters in Town Centre elected two councillors.
Tamworth Borough Council (Staffordshire): Wilnecote ward election, also postponed from May due to a candidate's death.
Other by-elections: Scattered contests in places like Denbighshire and Carmarthenshire (Wales), Ealing (London), and various English districts, often involving single seats.
These polls occurred roughly six weeks after the major May 2026 local elections, where Reform UK made substantial gains nationwide.
Notable Results as of 26 June for local election
Wales (multiple by-elections reported):
Llangennech (Carmarthenshire): Plaid Cymru gained from Reform UK.
Rhyl South (Denbighshire): Reform UK gained from Labour.
Llanrhaeadr-yng-Nghinmeirch (Denbighshire): Independent gain from Plaid Cymru.
Other Welsh results included Labour and Plaid holds/gains in areas like Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf.
England (multiple by-elections reported):
Results in St Helens and Tamworth wards were closely watched given Reform UK's strong showing in the May elections in those regions. Detailed outcomes for these specific wards highlight ongoing local dynamics post the broader Reform surge.
In Ealing (North Acton ward): Green Party candidate elected.
Broader Significance for local election
These smaller polls provide a continued snapshot of voter sentiment following the May 2026 local elections, which saw Reform UK surge, Labour face heavy losses, and increased fragmentation with more no-overall-control councils. Issues like local services, housing, and national political discontent continued to influence results.
In St Helens and Tamworth, the outcomes test Reform's ability to hold or build on their recent momentum in traditional Labour-leaning areas. Plaid Cymru's performance in Wales also reflects regional dynamics alongside the recent Senedd elections.
For full official results, check council websites (e.g., St Helens, Tamworth) or aggregators like the BBC or Local Elections Archive Project, as counting and declarations rolled out on 25-26 June.
These by-elections underscore the ongoing volatility in UK local politics, with smaller contests often serving as early indicators for future national trends.
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