Summary

  • The Conservative Party has lost control of Buckinghamshire Council and Hertfordshire County Council

  • Voting took place for 97 seats at Buckinghamshire Council and all 78 seats at Hertfordshire County Council on Thursday

  • Counts are taking place in Aylesbury, and across Herts

  • The unitary Bucks Council replaced the county and district councils in 2020 and its first set of elections in 2021 gave the Conservatives a huge majority

  • After gains for Reform UK, the Lib Dems and Greens, the Conservatives have lost control of Hertfordshire County Council

  • The Tories had been in charge at Herts since 1999

Live Reporting

By Amy Holmes, Alex Pope and Neve Gordon-Farleigh. Edited by Andrew Woodger

  1. Bucks Council first declaration is a Conservative win
    Breaking

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties

    A woman is on a stage, she has dark hair and is wearing glasses and is wearing a black top. Nobody else is on the stage but she is stood in front of a microphone with a blue background.Amy Holmes/BBC

    Returning officer Sarah Ashmead has announced that Arman Alam has been elected for the Booker & Cressex ward, which is in the High Wycombe area.

    Reform UK were in second place, with Labour in third.

    We know that turnout for the whole council area is 35%, which is four percentage points less than the last elections for Buckinghamshire Council in 2021.

    It may be a long while yet before we get the full story here - there are 97 councillors to elect across 49 wards.

    Each ward will have between one and three councillors.

  2. 'The pressure is on for us' says Reform councillor

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties

    Paul Irwin is the sole Reform UK councillor on Buckinghamshire Council and he is hoping that he will soon be joined by at least five others from his party.

    The Conservatives are currently in charge of the unitary authority - having won a huge majority in 2021 when the new council held its first elections.

    Paul Irwin standing outside a buildingAmy Holmes/BBC

    "I think the pressure is on for us. It's a very safe area for the Conservative Party, but we've got all the work cut out to do something about it," he says.

    "I'm feeling confident we'll get some over the horizon - I hope we do as we need change in Buckinghamshire.

    "I'd like to get the minimum of six to 10 councillors; we can make a real difference with that; anything else will be a bonus."

    As we await the results, the turnout for Bucks has been confirmed at 35%.

  3. 'We're not out of the game yet,' says Bucks MP

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

    A picture of the Mid Bucks Conservative MP Greg Smith - he is wearing a blue jacket and a light blue shirt.Amy Holmes/BBC

    The Conservative MP for Mid Bucks Greg Smith said it had been a tough set of local elections so far

    Greg Smith, the Conservative MP for Mid Buckinghamshire, is here at Stoke Mandeville stadium.

    "It has clearly been an incredibly tough set of local elections for the Conservatives," he says.

    "We have seen the results overnight with Reform UK doing very well and clearly there has been a lot of protest voting here in Buckinghamshire."

    He added that "as the votes starts to be counted we have still got an optimism and we are still in the game and still competitive, nothing like we were in 2021, but we were riding the crest of the vaccine wave back then."

  4. Opposition leader in Herts thinks there could be 'surprises'

    Simon Dedman
    BBC political reporter

    Steve Jarvis standing in an election countSimon Dedman/BBC

    On Hertfordshire County Council prior to this week's elections, the Conservatives had 42 seats and the Liberal Democrats 22, making Lib Dem Steve Jarvis the opposition leader.

    He is another person who does not want to call the result, but says that already the party has picked up a couple of seats in Welwyn Hatfield.

    He believes there could be "the possibility of complete surprises" but Reform UK seems to be taking votes from Labour and the Conservatives.

    "The Reform intervention has thrown a gap in the air and may well produce some results - not what people are expecting," says Jarvis.

  5. Herts results suggesting a change in the political landscape

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

    With half of the results now declared in Hertfordshire (39 of the 78 seats), it looks like change is on the way for an authority that the Conservatives have only ever had full control of.

    As it stands, Conservatives are the largest party with 15 declared seats, 14 for the Lib Dems, seven for Reform UK, two for Labour and the Greens on one.

    The magic number for a majority is 40, but that's looking more and more unlikely for any one party.

  6. 'Three-way fight'

    Simon Dedman
    BBC political reporter

    A large group of people at an election countSimon Dedman/BBC

    Sources from the three main parties at the Hertfordshire County Council count in Letchworth are saying some wards will be close.

    The Labour vote is said to have collapsed in some areas and the Conservatives have lost support to Reform UK.

    This as votes are still being verified here at the count at the North Herts Leisure Centre.

    In Stevenage, Labour says it is hopeful of gaining a seat - potentially St Nicholas - from the Conservatives, and that it could be a three-way fight.

    This was the case in 2013 when Labour took it from the Tories, and UKIP - which current Reform leader Nigel Farage was leading - came second.

    Farage has upped the number of his MPs in the Commons after Reform won the Runcorn & Helsby by-election - the only parliamentary by-election yesterday.

  7. Turnouts revealed in north Hertfordshire

    The turnout for county council wards in the North Herts area has been confirmed:

    • Baldock and Letchworth East 37.56%
    • Hitchin North 34.04%
    • Hitchin Rural 35.59%
    • Hitchin South 42.08%
    • Knebworth & Codicote 39.16%
    • Letchworth North 32.46%
    • Letchworth South 39.1%
    • Royston East and Ermine 37.81%
    • Royston West and Rural 36.29%

    Counting of the votes is still under way.

  8. What have been the key election issues in Hertfordshire?

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

    Conservative leader Richard Roberts - he has short hair and is wearing glasses, a dark blue jacket, with a light purple shirt and a purple tieHertfordshire County Council

    Problems with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) services are not unique to Hertfordshire, but the county has had a tough couple of years as a result.

    In November 2023, its Send provision was given the lowest rating possible by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission who identified "widespread" and "systemic failings".

    In October 2024, Conservative leader Richard Roberts (pictured) said "demand for Send support had increased by 223% since 2015" making it the "fourth-lowest funded council for high needs", adding that the "absolutely astronomical costs" were "eating into other budgets".

    Other issues include the state of roads and bus services.

    The Labour government announced recently that the county would get an extra £9.3m for pothole and pavement repairs this year, on top of £35m it had already been allocated.

  9. Reform UK predict taking up to 15 seats in Herts

    Nicola Haseler
    BBC News

    Noel Wilcox standing in an election countNicola Haseler/BBC

    It's safe to say it's been a good day for Reform UK and the party's Noel Wilcox is hoping to win a seat in Hemel Hempstead.

    "We are picking up seats and if we are not picking up seats then we are coming in second which would say we are the official opposition to Labour [nationally]," he says.

    "It shows it's working, we're getting out there, talking to the electorate and listening to what they're saying."

    He predicts his party could take 10-15 seats on the Hertfordshire County Council.

    We now know the turnout for Dacorum is 30.95%.

  10. What is the current make-up Hertfordshire County council?

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

    A picture of Hertfordshire County Council's offices in Hertford. It is a brown brick building, with white bits too, and there is blue sky behind itHertfordshire County Council

    The Conservatives currently have a small majority on Hertfordshire County Council, but are the only party to have had full control since the authority was set up in 1974

    Ahead of today's results the Conservatives have overall control with 42 councillors out of the 78 that make up Hertfordshire County Council.

    They also held the Hatfield North seat until the passing of councillor James Bond last October, but that vacancy will be filled along with the rest today.

    The Liberal Democrats are the official opposition with 22 councillors, while Labour have six, the Greens and Reform UK one each and there are five Independents.

    Of those five Independents, former Tory Jan Maddern successfully stood as an Independent in 2017 and 2021, Sara Bedford is a former Liberal Democrat, Michelle Vince is ex-Labour and Sunny Thusu another former Conservative.

    The fifth, former Lib Dem councillor Ron Tindall, isn’t standing this year.

  11. Liberal Democrats make gains in Herts

    Simon Dedman
    BBC political reporter

    Election count in HertfordshireSimon Dedman/BBC

    I'm just having a look on the Herts County Council election result system and the Liberal Democrats have gained the Haldens ward and the Handside & Peatree ward (one councillor in each ward) from the Conservatives.

    Reform UK have come second in both these seats.

    Reform has also picked up a seat by winning Welwyn Garden City South off the Conservatives who came third behind Labour.

    This comes in addition to the two seats they picked up after counting ended earlier this morning at Broxbourne.

    So far the Conservatives have lost five seats compared to 2021. They only need to lose two more (unless they make gains) to lose their majority on the council.

  12. 'Pivotal point' for politics, says council leader

    Nicola Haseler
    BBC News, Hertfordshire

    Sally Symington standing in a hall where an election count is taking placeNicola Haseler/BBC

    Sally Symington is the Liberal Democrat leader of Dacorum Borough Council, which is currently under no overall control, and she has been in the post for only a few weeks.

    She is standing in the Hertfordshire County Council election in Tring.

    "It would appear in the overnight news we're at another pivotal point, and it feels a bit like how the [Brexit] referendum felt like in 2016," she says.

    "We have a very strong performance from the Reform Party and that's a major change in local politics."

    She says it is too early to call the result, but realises the impact the votes can have on the Lib Dems.

  13. 'Everything is up in the air'

    Simon Dedman
    BBC political reporter

    Kevin Bonavia standing in an election countSimon Dedman

    For Kevin Bonavia, the Labour MP for Stevenage, it's too early to call the results for Hertfordshire County Council, which has been under the control of the Conservatives ahead of Thursday's voting.

    "Everything is up in the air; the jury is still out," he says.

    I spoke to him at the count in Letchworth, where some of his parliamentary constituents will have been voting.

    The one thing he did confirm is "people want to see change".

  14. Things to look out for in Buckinghamshire

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

    A picture of independent councillor Stuart Wilson in the council chamber in Aylesbury. He has grey/white hair, and is wearing a dark jacket and a tie that is blue but with white lining and red flowers on itAmy Holmes/BBC

    The Independents, who are led by Stuart Wilson, are currently the second largest group on the authority, and there are almost 40 independent candidates standing

    The Conservatives have a massive majority, but with the number of councillors significantly reduced that could change.

    Historically, Labour have performed well in Wycombe in local elections, and the Lib Dems the same in Aylesbury, aside from 2013 when UKIP won six councillors to briefly become the opposition party.

    Paul Irwin was one of those six, but in 2015 he crossed the floor to the Conservatives.

    He recently joined Reform UK (set up by Nigel Farage who also led UKIP) and is its sole councillor at the moment, but the party will be keen to make gains, as will the Greens who have one councillor currently, but more than 30 candidates.

    Several Lib Dems have chosen to stand down from the party ahead of this election and most are standing as Independents instead.

    It is those Independents that could play a role in the outcome here.

    Before the election there were 16 of them, but almost 40 unaffiliated candidates are standing this time.

  15. Things to look out for in Hertfordshire

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

    Nigel Farage holding a MacDonald's milkshake in his right hand. He is wearing a jacket with a pink shirt and tie.James Manning/PA Media

    After becoming MP for Clacton in Essex last year, the Reform UK leader will be hoping for big gains in the local elections

    The Tories have a slim majority, so, with 40 councillors needed for a party to have full control of Hertfordshire County Council, they could lose that status today - especially as they have already seen two losses in Broxbourne overnight.

    The Conservatives have been the only party with full control of the county council since it was formed in 1974.

    There are no district council elections in Herts this year, but in the last two years the party has lost control of four districts councils to the Lib Dems, Labour and the Greens.

    The Tories also lost seven MPs to Labour in the 2024 general election while the Lib Dems doubled the number of MPs in Herts last year. The Conservatives now just have three MPs in what was once a true blue county.

    The overnight success for Reform UK means they start the day already with two county councillors, to add to the two district councillors they have in Broxbourne, so they will be keen to build on that as the day goes on.

    The Greens recently took control of East Herts (in a pact with the Lib Dems) so Thursday's voting could see them gain more support.

    Plus, with half an eye on the deletion of the mayoral post (if a unitary model is agreed for Herts at a later date - replacing the county and district council two-tier set-up), Watford’s elected Mayor Peter Taylor is standing in the county council elections.

  16. Verification of Buckinghamshire votes begins

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

    Groups of people at a counting in a sports hall for local electionsAmy Holmes/BBC

    I'm in place for the counting in the sports hall at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, where the waiting journalists keep on being chaperoned in and out.

    Counting won't start until about 13:00, but verification of the votes is currently under way.

    No-one knows what the official turnout is yet.

  17. Empty chairs and an empty platform

    Alex Pope
    BBC News, Buckinghamshire

    A room full of empty chairsAmy Holmes/BBC

    A room at Stoke Mandeville Stadium is all ready for the declaration of the results for Buckinghamshire County Council.

    For any lovers of musical theatre, the song, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, from Les Misérables, seems apt.

  18. Vote counting under way in Letchworth

    Simon Dedman
    BBC political reporter

    Vote verification is under way here in Letchworth and across Hertfordshire for the county council elections.

    Activists are actively watching the ballots being checked and piled up for each candidate.

    One senior Labour source says it is looking close in the urban parts of North Hertfordshire at this early stage between them and the Conservatives, Lib Dems and Reform UK.

    A group of people standing by tables, looking at notes and checking results.Simon Dedman

    One Conservative candidate is said to have clocked up 45,000 steps yesterday to get their voters out on polling day.

  19. Reform UK gains 'not a surprise'

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties Radio

    For Reform UK to be doing well in Broxbourne is perhaps not a surprise as the area voted 66% for Brexit in 2016 and more recently the party has seen its first two councillors on Borough of Broxbourne Council.

    The Conservatives have lost two councillors, meaning the narrow majority they had on Hertfordshire County Council has got even smaller, with the rest of the results due to be announced later today.

  20. What is the current make-up of Buckinghamshire Council?

    Amy Holmes
    Political reporter, BBC Three Counties

    A picture of Buckinghamshire Council's headquarters in Aylesbury, which is a beige building of five floors. There is blue sky behind the picture.Buckinghamshire Council

    Buckinghamshire Council is currently run by the Conservatives who had more than 100 councillors in the run up to these elections

    Prior to yesterday's voting, the Conservatives had control of the unitary authority, with 105 councillors, but there were 16 Independents, 13 Liberal Democrats, six Labour, one Reform UK and one Green councillor.

    There were 147 seats, but that has been reduced to 97 since the last round of voting.

    There are also two councillors who are part of an independent network and two Wycombe Independents, plus one vacancy following the death of Conservative councillor Jonathan Rush in Chalfont St Peter earlier this year.