Zack Polanski says two-party politics is dead after Green election surge
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 8
Zack Polanski says two-party politics is dead after Green election surge
8 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 8
The Greens took Norwich, Hastings and Waltham Forest, won mayoralties in Hackney and Lewisham, and reached a projected 18% national vote share.
Polanski said the results showed voters were rejecting Labour and embracing a Green alternative, while the party also gained representation in the Welsh and Scottish parliaments.
Deputy leader Rachel Millward said vote share rose almost everywhere the party stood, and polling expert John Curtice called it the Greens' best-ever performance.
With its leader's popularity falling, can the Green Party's record success last?
As Labour collapses, will Greens or Reform UK become Britain's new political force?
Can Green-led councils deliver on radical promises with austerity-era budgets?
Green Party Surges to 289 Council Seats as Labour Collapses in May 2026 UK Local Elections
Overview
The May 2026 local elections marked a historic shift in UK politics as the Green Party surged, winning key mayoralties and councils previously held by Labour, driven by voter anger over the cost-of-living crisis and Labour's austerity policies. The Greens' clear strategy of offering hope and practical solutions, supported by a rapid membership increase, helped them consolidate progressive voters. Meanwhile, Reform UK capitalized on concentrated support to gain significant seats, splitting the right-leaning protest vote. Labour suffered heavy losses, triggering calls for leadership change. The First-Past-The-Post system limited the Greens' seat gains despite strong support, while proportional systems in Scotland and Wales amplified Green influence, fueling demands for electoral reform and signaling the end of two-party dominance.