Labour Together’s Lisa Nandy and Josh Simons have managed to keep Labour holding onto control of Wigan Council, which was never really under threat in these local elections. However, the scale of their losses – and far-right Reform UK’s gains – indicate that the traditionally Labour and working-class constituency will likely go to Reform UK in the next election.
Given the deprivation and lack of investment in people and community across Wigan, this loss to the far right is surely leaving many Wigan residents feeling dismayed and hopeless.
NEW: Labour has held Wigan council but lost all 22 seats it was defending to Reform UK
LAB: 42 (-22)
RFM: 25 (+24)
IND: 8 (-1)
CON: 0 (-1)
— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) May 8, 2026
Labour retains control in Wigan – for now
The full results are as follows:
Labour: Lost 22 seats, holding 42 in total
Reform: Gained 24, holding 25 in total
Independent: Lost 1, holding 8 in total
Conservative: Lost 1, now hold no seats on Wigan Council
One ward in particular presents a very concerning glimpse into what might come in 2027 and beyond to the next general election. Ince is widely regarded as one of the safest Labour wards, and the huge swing to Reform is undoubtedly indicative of how Farage appears to be finding a way of connecting to the working classes who are beyond fed up of the system, far more effectively than any other party:
Gemma Painter (Reform) – 1,809 (58.3%)
Terence William Halliwell (Labour) – 608 (19.6%)
Gareth Nelson (Green) – 365 (11.8%)
Yamini Gupta (Conservative) – 115 (3.7%)
Vincent Dean Holgate (LIB/DEM) – 135 (4.3%)
The Zok (Independent) – 73 (2.4%)
On average, approximately 10% more turned up to vote, similar to the general election with a 44% turnout. Whilst this shows increased engagement, that engagement is clearly being predominantly garnered by right-wing politics.
Scrutiny is crucial
As a result, scrutiny of all Reform candidates is crucial to ensure that people see the wood for the trees and recognise that Farage’s billionaire-interested party is not the cure for the misery and struggle facing working class communities in northern towns and cities.
Moreover, reports from people at the event highlighted that Reform UK deployed the strongest operation in Wigan. They had the most volunteers, visibility, and party backing on the ground and at the count.
Left-wing and progressive parties should take that lesson seriously: if they want to win, they must properly invest in and support candidates with real campaigns instead of spreading themselves thin across every possible seat and simply hoping for good results.
Fascism poses far too serious a threat for political parties to keep placing ambition above the urgent need to elect councillors who genuinely understand – and fight for – the struggles, anger, and neglect people experience in their communities every day.
Featured image via the Canary
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