We are facing a monumental day in Birmingham as the votes from the 2026 local election are being counted. All 101 seats from all 69 wards of Birmingham City Council are up for grabs in the all-out election, with Labour looking to retain control of the authority.
Key Challenges for Labour
The controlling group is facing rough headwinds, from local crises to national dissatisfaction with the Labour government. Polls have predicted a potential change in power in Birmingham. Results from other councils around the country point to a disastrous collapse in the Labour vote, with Reform appearing to cash in early.
What Is at Stake
As the largest local authority in Europe, any group taking overall control will have to resolve the fallout from the city's financial crisis and the ongoing bin strike. Reform UK has made large gains around the country and hopes to do so in Birmingham, but Independents also hope to capitalise on the clamour for change. The Greens are riding high with a surge in membership nationally, while local Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have claimed to be the only ones capable of seizing control.
We have reporters at the count today to bring you all the developments throughout the day. By the end of it, we will hopefully know who will be running the city in the years ahead.
