08/05/2026
The 7 May 2026 local elections in Blackburn with Darwen were part of wider UK local elections that saw strong challenges to both Labour and Conservatives from smaller parties, especially Reform UK and independents.
Key points from Blackburn
* A total of 17 council seats were contested on Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. 
* Labour entered the election as the controlling party under council leader Phil Riley. 
* The election took place against a backdrop of:
* growing support for independents after the 2024 Gaza-related political split,
* Reform UK expanding heavily in northern towns,
* and several Blackburn councillors leaving Labour before the election. 
* Reform UK and the Green Party fielded candidates in every Blackburn ward for the first time, increasing pressure on Labour’s traditional vote base. 
Political trends seen locally
* Blackburn remained one of the Lancashire areas being closely watched because of:
* strong independent groups,
* Muslim voter dissatisfaction over Gaza,
* and Reform UK’s growth in working-class areas. 
* Several wards were viewed as competitive battlegrounds, including:
* Blackburn Central,
* Mill Hill & Moorgate,
* Darwen West,
* and Ewood. 
* Polling projections before voting suggested Labour could lose seats while Reform UK could make major gains. 
Wider UK picture affecting Blackburn
Across England on election night:
* Reform UK made significant gains in former Labour strongholds.
* Labour suffered notable seat losses in many northern councils.
* Independent and Green candidates performed strongly in areas with large Muslim populations. 
Current status
As of now, full officially confirmed Blackburn ward-by-ward final results are still limited online, with live counting and declarations continuing through 8 May.