28 days later – Where does power lie one month after local elections?

A month on from May’s local elections, the political landscape across the Midlands is still shifting.

From Reform UK’s breakthrough victories in Sandwell, Walsall and Newcastle-under-Lyme to a string of councils falling into no overall control, new administrations are taking shape as parties negotiate coalitions, minority governments and confidence-and-supply agreements across the region.

Councils are now settling into new political realities as Reform, Labour, Conservatives, Greens and Liberal Democrats battle for control through coalitions, minority administrations and power-sharing deals.

Here’s our round-up of where power now lies in an altered Midlands political landscape.

Birmingham (Labour LOSS to No Overall Control)

Europe’s largest local authority provided arguably the largest shock of this year’s local elections, as huge gains for both Reform and the Green Party took control of the council away from Labour, who had previously led the council in one form or another for more than a decade.

Reform leader Nigel Farage had promised to throw the kitchen sink at Birmingham in the run-up to elections, and while his party mopped up 23 seats to become the largest block on the council, it did not have enough to assume overall control – falling well short of the required 51.

The fall-out began almost immediately, with the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives indicating they were unlikely to work with Reform to form a coalition.

Instead, the authority could be headed up by a Green, Liberal Democrat coalition, with support from the Better Birmingham group of independent councillors set to take it to a “workable” minority administration of around 40 seats.

A plan to rotate the leadership between the Liberal Democrats and the Greens is being proposed ahead of a city council meeting this week.

“As Leaders of the Green, Liberal Democrat, and Better Birmingham Groups we are tonight making clear our commitment to come together for a safer, greener and fairer city,” said a joint statement issued last week, signed by leaders of all three groups.

“We are working to create a sustainable administration to serve Birmingham’s residents. We call on other councillors who share our aim of a fairer city to support us.”

“We are working hard to finalise an agreement soon, so we can give the leadership the Council and the city deserves.”

Likely future leadership: Green/Lib Dem-led minority administration

Newcastle-under-Lyme (Reform GAIN from Conservative)

The picture is mercifully clearer at Newcastle-under-Lyme, which was taken out of Conservative control after Reform won 27 of the 44 seats available on the council last month.

New leader, Jonathan Gullis, was appointed alongside a new cabinet for the authority shortly afterwards, promising to focus on “bread and butter” policy issues for residents.

The new administration wasted little time in making their mark, scrapping a climate emergency declaration passed in 2019, and taking the authority out of the Local Government Association in a headline-grabbing bid to save £17, 200 a year.

“It is a talking shop that exists to protect the political class, not the public,” said Cllr Gullis.

“Reform UK was elected to do things differently. That means putting taxpayers first, with institutions like the Local Government Association being abolished.”

In a statement the LGA, a cross-party national organisation intended to represent the interests of local government, described the decision as “disappointing”.

Future leadership: Reform majority administration

Tamworth (Labour LOSS to No Overall Control)

In Tamworth, Reform also made significant gains as the council slipped from Labour into no overall control.

Only nine seats were up for election but Reform won them all, taking six from the Conservatives, two from Labour and one previously independent.

Still the largest block on the council, Labour continue to run the authority as a minority administration, with Labour leader Cllr Carol Dean re-elected as leader at the council’s annual meeting on 19 May.

“We are where we are. We now have 10 new councillors, and I’d like to welcome them to our Tamworth Borough Council family,” she told the meeting.

“I hope that when you’ve had a chance to look through the stuff that we are doing, the stuff that we’re in the midst of, you’re able to support us and support the people of Tamworth with the projects that we’ve got in place because you are joining us at very exciting times.”

Future leadership: Labour minority administration

Dudley (Remained under No Overall Control)

It was a similar picture in Dudley, where the council remained under no overall control despite a historic night for Reform, who became the second largest party on the council.

A total of 25 seats out of 72 were up for grabs, with Reform taking 22 of them, mostly from Conservative incumbents. The tories hung on in Halesowen North as well as Kingswinford North & Wall Heath, while Labour were re-elected in St Thomas’s.

The Conservative party will continue to run the council, albeit with a reduced majority.

Council leader, Cllr Patrick Harley, unveiled a new cabinet last month, promising to “work with other parties” in order to “deliver for Dudley”.

“While our politics may differ, we are all here to serve our residents,” he said.

As the second-largest party on the authority, Reform have named a shadow administration led by Cllr Marco Longhi.

Future leadership: Conservative minority administration

Redditch (Labour LOSS to No Overall Control)

In Redditch, the Conservatives have struck a deal with Reform to kick Labour out of office, after a bumper night of Reform gains swung power away from the administration.

Labour lost overall control of Redditch last month, an authority it gained from the Conservatives in 2024, despite only a third of seats being up for grabs, but the Reform Party took seven of the available wards to become the main opposition to Labour on the council.

Last week, the Conservatives agreed a confidence and supply deal which will see them run the council with support from Reform and three independent councillors.

As part of the deal, Reform will receive the mayor and deputy mayor roles alongside committee chairs covering planning and licensing.

New leader, Cllr Matt Dormer, says his future plans include a shake-up of Redditch town centre which will see the authority enter into talks with the Kingfisher Shopping Centre on improvement plans. The future of the town’s library and outdoor market is also under review, he told the BBC last month.

Future leadership: Conservative minority administration

Cannock Chase (Labour LOSS to No Overall Control)

Cannock Chase is now under Reform control, after it became the largest part on the council with 14 seats.

New leader, Cllr Paul Jones, was appointed on 20 May, vowing to work with the other parties on the council for the benefit of the community.

He named a cabinet of six fellow Reform Party councillors.

Future leadership: Reform minority administration

Wolverhampton (Labour HOLD)

Labour hung on to control in Wolverhampton, despite Reform winning the majority of the 21 seats being contested in the city to become the second largest party on the council.

With only a third of wards being contested, Labour were never going to lose their thumping overall majority, but they lost 11 seats to Reform despite hanging on in six ward.

As a result, the city presents a relatively calm picture in contrast to upheaval elsewhere in the West Midlands.

Future leadership: Labour majority administration

Solihull (Conservative LOSS to No Overall Control)

Voters in Solihull continued the trend as a wave of Reform wins swept the West Midlands, the authority slipping from Conservative to control to no overall majority as Reform took 17 seats on the council to become the second largest party.

Nonetheless, the Conservative party remained as the largest voting block on the council with 24 seats, and will continue to run the council having formed a minority administration led by Cllr Karen Grinsell.

Cllr Grinsell put a brave face on last month’s election outcome, calling it a “positive result” for the party, despite now leading a minority administration on the council.

“The all-out election means there’s been a lot of change,” she said last week.

“Ultimately, regardless of which party we represent, we all work for our constituents and for all the people of Solihull, so I look forward to hearing new ideas and seeing people working hard in their wards.”

Future leadership: Conservative minority administration

Sandwell (Reform GAIN from Labour)

Sandwell provided one of the West Midlands’ landslide local election victories, as Nigel Farage’s Reform party took 41 seats in Sandwell to end Labour’s 47-year stint at the healm of the authority.

New leader, Cllr Ray Nock, was appointed last month – and put boosting the areas town centres at the top of his agenda.

The authority is in the midst of a £2.3bn regeneration programme featuring 69 separate regeneration projects, kicked off in 2022 and set to run through next year. Work on the £24m Haden Hill leisure centre project began last month.

“There is a lot to be proud of in Sandwell, and alongside my new Cabinet we’re totally committed to making our borough an even better place to live and work,” he said.

“We will be focused on the issues that matter to people in Sandwell, creating jobs, boosting our town centres and high streets and helping with the cost of living.”

Future leadership: Reform majority administration

Walsall (Reform GAIN from Conservative)

One of the most bitter campaigns in the region was fought in Walsall, where Conservative council leader Mike Bird lost his seat as Reform swept to power, taking 40 of the 60 seats up for grabs in the borough.

Bird described the run-up to the election as ‘toxic’, as the Tories lost 28 seats while Labour also suffered heavy losses, retaining just one of their 19 wards on the council.

Former Reform mayoral candidate Elaine Williams was formally appointed as leader of the council last month, promising the new administration would bring a “clear sense of direction, strong accountability, and a renewed focus on the issues that matter most to local people.”

“We have been fighting for change, and we have now been given a mandate to deliver the meaningful change that improves the lives of residents,” she said in a statement.

The party got off to a somewhat inauspicious start after Harden, Goscote and Ryecroft councillor Robin Perry was suspended within days of being elected, after reportedly comparing his local party to 1920’s far-right Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini.

“Reform isn’t the party I thought it was,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service shortly afterwards.

Future leadership: Reform majority administration

Nuneaton & Bedworth (Labour LOSS to No Overall Control)

Cllr George Finch became the youngest councillor ever to lead Nuneaton and Bedworth, winning out in a three-way vote to become leader after Reform took 15 of the 19 seats up for grabs in the borough at May’s elections.

The result meant Reform become the largest party on the authority ahead of Labour, but nonetheless, the party reportedly needed to broker an agreement with the Conservatives in order to form a minority administration to run the council.

The Tories voted with Reform to back 19-year-old Finch’s appointment as leader in a council meeting on 20 May, a move some view as controversial as he is also ‘double-jobbing’ as the leader of Warwickshire County Council.

At a council meeting on 20 May, Finch backed his party to do a “phe­nom­enal job” in Nuneaton during its term.

Future leadership: Reform minority administration

Rugby (No Overall Control)

The Lib Dems were the biggest winners in Rugby last month, surging to become he second-largest party on the council with 12 seats, while Reform picked up their first three councillors.

Labour had previously been running the authority as a minority administration, but were forced into coalition with the Lib Dems following the result, with Labour’s Louise Robinson now confirmed as leader and Lib Dem Cllr Jerry Roodhouse as deputy.

A coalition agreement between the two parties sets out a “shared commitment to delivering stable and effective leadership for Rugby Borough”, with a focus on protecting and improving council services, and ensuring the borough is well represented during ongoing discussions about local government reorganisation and devolution.

Cllr Louise Robinson, Leader of Rugby Borough Council, said the two parties’ focus would now be on working together in the best interests of residents, businesses and communities across the borough.

Future leadership: Labour/Lib Dem coalition minority administration

North East Lincolnshire (No Overall Control)

Reform’s group leader Oliver Freeston is now leader of North East Lincolnshire following a surge in popularity for his party last month.

Reform surged in North East Lincolnshire to take 14 of the 15 seats up for grabs in the constituency, becoming the second-largest party, after the Conservatives lost all nine of the seats they were contesting.

26-year-old Freeston, who has been a councillor since the age of 18, said he wanted to review a £4.5m regeneration scheme in Cleethorpes which got under way last month.

“We’re reviewing the previous scheme that clearly wasn’t working for everybody. If  we can improve that and the scheme goes ahead then fine, ultimately the contracts have been signed – but it’s about being responsible with local finances and seeing what the cost implications are.

“While people say its grant funding, it’s still tax payer money, and we all need to be more responsible at national and local levels.”

Future leadership: Reform minority administration