Reform UK has claimed a clean sweep of all contested seats at Cannock Chase Council in the 2026 local elections, less than a year after the party's first member was elected to the authority. A wave of turquoise swept through the Civic Centre on Friday, May 8, as Reform UK secured all 13 available seats in this year's local elections.
Prior to this week, the party held just two positions on the council: county councillor Paul Jones, who won a district by-election last summer, and fellow former Tory Richard Craddock, who crossed the floor to Reform UK as a sitting district councillor. Councillor Craddock was standing for re-election in the Cannock Longford and Bridgtown ward and not only retained his seat but was joined by 12 new colleagues.
Labour Suffers Major Losses
Reform UK's surge spelled disaster for the previously dominant Labour party. Labour entered the elections holding 18 of 36 seats, yet eight of its councillors were ousted, including leader Steve Thornley, deputy leader Garry Samuels, and cabinet members David Williams and Sue Thornley. Mr. Thornley, who took over from Tony Johnson as council leader last year, revealed he had planned to step down regardless. He stated: "It's a stressful job and taking on responsibility of a council is hard work if you do it properly. The general mood of the party is deflated. There is a national trend taking place, which is sadly ignoring the good work of the councillors within this chamber, and that's all the councillors that have worked to achieve the best for Cannock."
Mr. Thornley noted that the main issue on the doorsteps was immigration, particularly the phrase 'stop the boats', rather than local economic concerns or the difficulty of running an £18 million council with a £25 million demand. The future of theatre provision in Cannock also emerged as a key discussion point, following last year's contentious decision to shut the Prince of Wales Theatre.
Conservatives and Greens Lose Ground
Cannock Chase Conservatives also saw their representation on the council diminish, losing two seats. They now hold eight positions in the chamber. The Green Party, which previously held five seats, stood at three at the election's outset. However, it failed to secure empty seats in Hednesford Hills and Rawnsley and Hednesford Pye Green, or capture gains from rival parties, leaving it with three members. Green group leader Councillor Andrea Muckley stated the party would maintain its focus on residents and champion the protection of Cannock Chase's natural environment. She said: "Reform have run a campaign of national politics. I have genuine concerns that residents will find that their new Reform councillors will focus more on national politics, rather than what locally affects all of us on a daily basis. Green Party councillors are not bound by national policies and we will always vote for what's right."
Reform UK Councillors Celebrate
Triumphant Reform UK representatives expressed gratitude to polling station and election count personnel. The newly elected district councillors include Daniel Cecil, Alex Hunt, and Rhys Mandry, all of whom secured seats on Staffordshire County Council last year. Councillor Hunt, representing Chadsmoor, commented: "It is an absolute honour and a privilege. People want to be listened to at the end of the day – in my ward a lot of people felt they weren't being listened to or represented." Councillor Mandry, elected to the Hednesford Hills and Rawnsley ward, stated: "I can't wait to get started. Cannock Chase is the jewel of Staffordshire and we should be protecting it and protecting the Green Belt. I think we should launch an efficiency review. It is also about communication – we should be as clear and transparent as possible to residents."
Notwithstanding Reform UK's dramatic success, which establishes them as the largest party at Cannock Chase Council, they fall short of an outright majority. The local authority remains under no overall control by any single political party.
