Reform UK achieved a dramatic surge in the Dudley local elections, winning over 20 seats on the Metropolitan Borough Council overnight. The party's performance dealt significant blows to both Labour and the Conservatives.
Election Results Overview
The Conservatives lost six seats, now holding 27, while Reform UK now trails them by only four seats. Labour dropped from 23 to 15 seats, and the Liberal Democrats lost one councillor to Reform, leaving them with four elected members. The Black Country Party lost all three of its councillors.
Dudley Council remains under no overall control. A total of 25 seats were contested on May 7, with Wollaston and Stourbridge Town Ward having two vacancies.
Reform UK Chairman Reacts
Cllr Marco Longhi, Reform's Dudley chairman, expressed elation: "I was hoping for 15 out of 25, but 22 is amazing. Every Reform councillor will put the people of Dudley first."
Vote Breakdown by Ward
The total number of Reform votes across all wards was 41,775. Below are the votes for Reform in each ward, with note where another party won:
- Amblecote Ward: 1,685 (Reform elected)
- Belle Vale Ward: 1,437 (Reform elected)
- Brierley Hill and Wordsley South Ward: 1,365 (Reform elected)
- Brockmoor and Pensnett Ward: 1,515 (Reform elected)
- Castle and Priory Ward: 1,555 (Reform elected)
- Coseley Ward: 1,904 (Reform elected)
- Cradley North and Wollescote Ward: 1,271 (Reform elected)
- Gornal Ward: 2,532 (Reform elected)
- Halesowen North Ward: 792 (Conservatives elected with 1,347 votes)
- Halesowen South Ward: 1,684 (Reform elected)
- Hayley Green and Cradley South Ward: 1,573 (Reform elected)
- Kingswinford North and Wall Heath Ward: 1,913 (Conservatives elected with 1,983 votes)
- Kingswinford South Ward: 1,888 (Reform elected)
- Lye and Stourbridge North Ward: 1,348 (Reform elected)
- Netherton and Holly Hall Ward: 1,622 (Reform elected)
- Norton Ward: 1,691 (Reform elected)
- Pedmore and Stourbridge East Ward: 1,482 (Reform elected)
- Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood Ward: 1,891 (Reform elected)
- Sedgley Ward: 2,664 (Reform elected)
- St James' Ward: 1,630 (Reform elected)
- St Thomas' Ward: 1,224 (Labour elected with 1,415 votes)
- Upper Gornal and Woodsetton Ward: 2,533 (Reform elected)
- Wollaston and Stourbridge Town Ward: 1,324 and 1,464 (Reform elected x2)
- Wordsley North Ward: 1,788 (Reform elected)
This surge reflects a broader national trend for Reform UK, which has made gains in multiple areas across the country.
