Thousands of council seats are being contested in the 2025 local elections as voters across England head to the polls to choose new councillors and mayors.
Polling stations will close at 10pm on Thursday, May 1, and while most councils will begin counting the following day, a handful of key results are expected overnight.
In total, 1,641 council seats are up for grabs across 23 local authorities.
Voters will also elect four regional mayors, two local mayors, and a new MP for the constituency of Runcorn & Helsby.
Polling stations will close at 10pm on Thursday, May 1
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Here’s when to expect results and what they could mean for the political parties (all times are approximate):
At 10pm on Thursday, May 1, polling stations close. Counting will begin immediately for the Runcorn & Helsby parliamentary by-election and for four of the six mayoral contests: Doncaster, Greater Lincolnshire, North Tyneside, and the West of England.
Of the 23 local authorities holding elections, only Northumberland is expected to count and declare results overnight.
By around 2am on Friday, May 2, early results are expected for two of the mayoral races.
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In North Tyneside, Labour’s Karen Clark is the frontrunner, although a low voter turnout could narrow her expected lead.
Meanwhile, the West of England mayoral contest is shaping up to be a close race between Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Greens, with Labour’s position weakened after incumbent Dan Norris was suspended from the party following his arrest.
At approximately 3am, the result of the Runcorn & Helsby by-election should be announced.
This contest was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who stepped down after receiving a suspended prison sentence. In 2024, Amesbury had secured the seat with a strong Labour majority, but this time the contest is expected to be far tighter, with Reform UK hoping to deliver an upset.
This contest was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who stepped down after receiving a suspended prison sentence
PA
Around 3.30am, the outcome of the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election is due.
This is a newly created position, and the race is predicted to be a head-to-head battle between Conservative candidate Rob Waltham and Reform’s Dame Andrea Jenkyns, a former Tory MP.
By 5am, the Doncaster mayoral result is expected to be declared. Labour’s Ros Jones is seeking a fourth term in office.
At 7am, full council results should be in from Northumberland, where a Conservative minority currently runs the council.
Labour will be aiming to make gains, but Reform UK and independent candidates could also pick up enough seats to keep the council under no overall control.
Counting for the remaining contests will resume around 9am. This includes the final two mayoral races in Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and Hull & East Yorkshire, as well as the 22 remaining local authorities still to declare.
By 1pm, the full results are expected from Durham, where Labour remains the largest party but has been kept out of power by a coalition of Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and independents.
Labour hopes to regain control but faces a growing challenge from Reform.
Reform candidate Dame Andrea Jenkyns will be head-to-head with Conservative candidate Rob Waltham
PA
At around 1.45pm, the results from Lancashire are due. The Conservatives hold a slim majority there, but Labour, Reform, and independent candidates are all hoping to make gains and tip the balance.
By 2.30pm, the new Hull & East Yorkshire mayoral result is expected.
The region is a political battleground where the Conservatives, Labour, and Liberal Democrats all have pockets of support.
Reform has fielded a high-profile candidate in Olympic boxer Luke Campbell, adding another layer of competition.
At 3pm, results are due from three local councils. Labour is defending Doncaster but faces a strong challenge from Reform, which has made the council a top target.
The Conservatives are likely to see seat losses in Buckinghamshire and Leicestershire but could still emerge as the largest party on both councils.
Results are also expected in the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough mayoral race, where Labour’s Nik Johnson is not standing for re-election, opening up a close contest between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.
By 4pm, the outlook may worsen for the Conservatives.
Reform has fielded a high-profile candidate in Olympic boxer Luke Campbell
GETTY
The Liberal Democrats are hoping to dislodge Tory control in Gloucestershire and Hertfordshire and are eyeing major advances.
In Shropshire, the Conservatives are under pressure from the Lib Dems, Labour, and smaller parties, although they are better placed to defend their strong majority in Staffordshire.
At approximately 4.30pm, attention turns to Derbyshire, where Labour hopes to build on its general election success and gain council seats.
With the Liberal Democrats and Reform also targeting gains, the Conservatives risk losing overall control of the council.
By 5pm, further Conservative losses could materialise.
Reform is targeting traditionally strong Tory areas like Lincolnshire and North Northamptonshire, while in Nottinghamshire, the Conservatives’ narrow majority looks likely to collapse under pressure from Labour, Reform, and local independents.
The Liberal Democrats are seeking to cut into Conservative numbers in Warwickshire and are optimistic about winning majority control in Oxfordshire.
At around 6pm, the focus will shift to the South West, where more losses could await the Tories.
The Lib Dems are seeking to cut into Conservative numbers in Warwickshire and are optimistic about winning majority control in Oxfordshire
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In Cornwall, the Conservatives’ minority administration faces strong challenges from the Liberal Democrats and independents.
In neighbouring Devon and Wiltshire, the Lib Dems are also looking to wipe out Conservative majorities.
Meanwhile, in Cambridgeshire, where the Lib Dems are the largest party without a majority, they will be eager to strengthen their position.
Finally, at 7pm, the last results are expected from Kent and West Northamptonshire.
Both councils are currently Conservative-run, but the party faces strong challenges from Labour and Reform, with the Liberal Democrats, Greens, and independents also hoping to make gains, particularly in Kent.
