Local Election results for the South of England 2026
Democracy is winningpublished at 03:15 BST03:15 BSTEmily HudsonBBC South Political Editor
Forget which party is winning seats for now, tonight it's democracy which is winning.At every count which has reported figures, turnout is up and in some wards or divisions - significantly up. In Copnor, Portsmouth in 2024, turnout was 29%, today it was 44%.In Reading in 2024, it was 32%, today more than 41%.Reform's Hampshire spokesman George Madgwick has said "both Greens and Reform have engaged the community and that's prompted high turnout".But Nick Adams-King, Conservative leader of Hampshire County Council agreed many people actively came out to vote for Reform, but said "just as many people, if not more, had came out to vote against them".
