Reform could also make gains in Durham and stop Labour taking overall control of the country council. The think tank said Labour is hoping to make gains in the county “although, in second place in many of those same seats was Reform, so worth watching their performance too to see if they manage to break through.”
Conservatives could suffer losses in Kent, according to the think tank. It said: “Conservatives are going in with a lot to lose. Their recent council losses in many districts in the area suggest that both the Liberal Democrats and Reform could pick up seats here.”
And recent polling showing Reform could take control of Doncaster council, which Labour currently controls, “may be giving Labour reason to be concerned”.
The fifth key battleground is in Gloucestershire, where Conservatives are the largest party but Greens and Liberal Democrats could make gains, the think tank said.
Jonathan Carr-West, Local Government Information Unit Chief Executive, said a key issue would be “the relative performance of the Conservatives and Reform as the major parties of the right”. But he also highlighted “whether we see the continuing upward trajectory of the Liberal Democrats and Greens who will be looking to capitalise from the apparent weaknesses of Labour and the Conservatives in national polling.”
