Local elections: Devcomms speak on the South-West

James Mallinson, head of South West at DevComms, reflects on last week’s local elections:

Last week’s local elections across the South West delivered a mix of the predictable and the dramatic, from business-as-usual in Cheltenham, clinging on in Plymouth to political earthquakes in Swindon and Exeter.

Cheltenham: Lib Dems stay steady

Few people expected anything other than a steady night for the Liberal Democrats in Cheltenham, and that’s exactly what they got. The party retained their commanding grip on the council, slipping from 36 to 35 seats out of 40, barely a rounding error. Reform made their debut with a single seat, while the Greens held their two. Governance here remains about as controversial as a cream tea.

Plymouth: Labour Hold — But Ouch

Plymouth elects in thirds, so Labour were never mathematically at risk of losing control, but don’t let this false sense of security paper over a dramatic night.

Labour returned just 2 councillors from the seats on offer, losing 9 in the process. Reform roared in from a standing start, winning 14 new seats, the Greens picked up 2, and the Conservatives shed 6. Labour hold the council, but it was a bruising reminder that incumbency in 2026 feels more burden than badge.

Exeter: The City Tips Over

Exeter was the headline act. Labour’s 14-year grip on the city ended as the party lost 5 seats, leaving them with 18, just shy of the 20-seat majority mark. The Greens had a pleasing night, gaining 3 to bring their total to 10. Reform secured 3 seats and the Lib Dems hold 5, leaving the council in No Overall Control.

Labour remain the largest party and intend to govern. Councillor Philip Bialyk was defiant: “The prediction that Labour in Exeter is finished is wrong… we are the biggest group, we will form the leadership team.” The Greens are making clear they expect a voice. Green leader Councillor Diana Moore called for the council to “work more cooperatively” and to “involve people in shaping the city.” With Labour needing Green support to pass anything of substance, expect some lively negotiations and perhaps a shared agenda in the weeks ahead.

Swindon: The Ground Shifts

If Exeter was dramatic, Swindon was seismic. Labour went into the night holding 34 seats and a majority. They left with 19, a loss of 21 councillors in a single evening. The Conservatives are now the largest party on 23 seats (up 7), still 6 short of a majority, while Reform arrived from nowhere to claim 14. All very interesting in a geography regarded as a political bellwether.

Labour leader Jim Robbins acknowledged a “big national wind blowing through” the town and stares down the barrel of no realistic path back to power for Labour. Conservative leader Gary Sumner has ruled out working with Reform, which makes the political arithmetic decidedly knotty. The Annual Council meeting on 22 May will confirm who picks up the reins, and all signs point away from the current administration.

In short: the South West’s political map has been redrawn, in some places with a fine pencil, and in others with a sledgehammer. While it is business as usual in Cheltenham, the fragmented political nature left in Plymouth, Exeter and Swindon provide a more challenging landscape to deliver cohesive policy and securing cross party support will be crucial in development and planning.

Image: Devcomms