Badenoch Claims Tories Coming Back Despite Heavy Local Election Loss 2026

Kemi Badenoch has declared that the Conservatives are coming back after a mixed set of results in the 2026 local elections, even as her party suffered significant losses across England. Speaking to activists in Westminster, the Tory leader pointed to key holds in Wandsworth, Fareham, and Bexley as evidence of a revival, despite Reform UK making sweeping gains in Essex, Suffolk, and Staffordshire. The party was wiped out in Havering, where Reform now holds 39 of 55 council seats, and lost control of Hampshire County Council for the first time since 1997.

Badenoch’s upbeat assessment contrasted sharply with the mood in some Conservative strongholds. Bernard Jenkin, the veteran MP for Harwich and North Essex, described the losses in his own county as “mortifying”, after Reform took control of Essex County Council, ending the Tories’ 25-year reign. Yet Badenoch insisted the results show her party has “already troughed and is on an upward trajectory,” while Reform may have peaked.

Key Results and Party Performance

The local elections delivered a complex picture for the Conservatives. While they held onto Westminster Council—taking it back from Labour—and retained control in Bexley and Fareham, the party suffered severe setbacks in several key battlegrounds. Reform UK emerged as the main beneficiary, gaining control of Suffolk County Council, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and making deep inroads into Essex and Norfolk.

Conservative Gains and Holds

• Westminster: Won back from Labour, a symbolic victory in London.
• Fareham: Held against Reform’s challenge.
• Bexley: Held with increased majorities for Tory councillors.
• Harlow: Secured all 11 district council seats.

Conservative Losses

• Essex: Lost 13 seats; Reform gained 52 and took control of the county council.
• Havering: Wiped out entirely; Reform now holds 39 of 55 seats.
• Suffolk: Lost control of the county council to Reform.
• Hampshire: Lost control for the first time since 1997.
• Newcastle-under-Lyme: Lost control; Reform now holds a majority of 27 seats.
• Brentwood and North East Lincolnshire: Reform made gains at Tory expense.

The Reform UK Factor

Nigel Farage’s party has become the primary challenger to the Conservatives in many areas, particularly in the South and Midlands. Reform’s success in Essex, Suffolk, and Staffordshire suggests it is consolidating the right-wing vote that once went to the Tories. However, Bernard Jenkin cautioned against overinterpreting the results, noting that in 1981 the SDP polled at 50% only to see Margaret Thatcher win a landslide in 1982. “It’s easy to get carried away by sensational outcomes,” he said, adding that the Conservative vote appears to be recovering in Kent, where Reform won outright control last year.

What This Means for the Next General Election

Political analysts point to the local elections as a bellwether for national sentiment. While Badenoch’s claim of a comeback may be premature, the party’s ability to hold key councils like Westminster and Fareham suggests it has not lost all support. However, the scale of losses in Essex and Hampshire—areas that were once safe Tory territory—raises questions about the party’s broader appeal. A Conservative-Reform pact remains a possibility, though Jenkin said it would depend on polling dynamics closer to the election.

FAQ: Badenoch, the Tories, and the Local Elections

Did the Conservatives actually win or lose in the 2026 local elections?

They had a mixed result. The Tories won back Westminster Council from Labour and held key councils like Fareham and Bexley. However, they suffered heavy losses in Essex, Suffolk, Hampshire, and Staffordshire, with Reform UK making major gains. Overall, the party lost control of several councils while managing symbolic victories in London.

Why is Kemi Badenoch saying the party is “coming back”?

Badenoch is focusing on the positive results in Westminster, Fareham, and Bexley to argue that the Conservative brand is recovering. She believes the party has “troughed”—hit its lowest point—and is now on an upward trajectory, while Reform UK may have peaked. This narrative is intended to rally party activists and counter negative media coverage.

Could the Conservatives and Reform UK form a pact before the next general election?

It’s possible. Bernard Jenkin, a senior Tory MP, said it would depend on polling closer to the election. A pact could help avoid splitting the right-wing vote, but it remains controversial within both parties. For now, the Conservatives are trying to win back Reform voters by emphasizing their own revival.