Keir Starmer and the Labour Party find themselves in crisis at the end of a disastrous 2025, while Reform UK continue to smash local election records.
As the year comes to an end, the final by-election numbers are in, showing who really enters 2026 with momentum.
The Green Party has boisterously shot up in the polls over the last few months, while their not-so-noisy neighbours, the Liberal Democrats will end the year as one of the major winners.
In recent data compiled by Election Maps UK, each party's 2025 has been broken down, and it's the Liberal Democrats who enter 2026 with the most success at local level.
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Sir Ed Davey's Liberal Democrats held an astonishing 82 per cent of seats they defended in Council By-Elections this year.
Their dominance comes despite just 44 per cent of seats being held across the country throughout the year.
The Lib Dems' stern defence is followed by the Green Party, which has held on 67 per cent, with Reform's hold rate standing at 60 per cent.
Unfortunately for Sir Keir, Labour sits down on a measly 28 per cent, while the Tories' fared marginally better at 32 per cent.
The Liberal Democrats held 82 per cent of their seats this year, while also winning the more by-elections than any other party (106)
|PA
And it gets better for Sir Ed: the Lib Dems won 106 Council By-Elections in 2025, more than any other party. Reform narrowly missed out on the accolade, winning 104.
However, Nigel Farage will also be delighted with his party's record-breaking year.
Reform recorded the largest winning margin in a by-election in 2025. This was in their win over the Conservatives in Paulsgrove (Portsmouth), by a staggering margin of 1,459.
Reform UK also made a net gain of 94 seats - the most of any party, by a significant distance.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Reform UK gained the most seats in 2025, while also recording the biggest winning margin (1,459)
|X
The Lib Dems came in at second, with a gain of 21 seats, while the Green Party gained six wards.
That means Reform gained over four times as many seats compared to any other party this year, as they steamrolled their way to the top of the polls.
In contrast, Labour ends the year with 89 seats fewer than they started, in what has proven to be a nightmare 12 months for the Prime Minister. Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives also lost 24 seats.
Of the seats Labour did win this year, two of them by a single vote, marking the two closest by-election wins in 2025.
Labour lost 89 seats this year, and are also responsible for the two by-election victories with the smallest margin (1)
| PASo, the numbers paint a telling picture at this year's by-elections: Reform and the Lib Dems have enjoyed a year to build on. Labour, on the other hand, will be thankful to see the end of a catastrophic 2025 at the polls.
The Green Party ended the year with real momentum and saw a huge surge in membership following the appointment of Zack Polanski in September. They could be a party to watch come the new year.
As for Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives, they end 2025 with 45 seats, 18.2 per cent, and a decline of 24. Their year has been overshadowed by the fall of the Labour Party, but they certainly have a lot of ground to make up to the frontrunners.
In Westminster, Reform retained its place at the top of the voting intention, with 25 per cent. They are closely followed by Labour (20 per cent) and the Tories (19 per cent).
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
More From GB News