Lancashire

Lancashire is a ceremonial county in north-west England, administered by Lancashire County Council, one of the largest county councils in England covering a population of approximately 1.2 million. The county encompasses former industrial towns including Burnley, Blackburn, Preston, and Lancaster, as well as rural areas. It neighbours Greater Manchester, Cumbria, North Yorkshire, and the West Riding. Lancashire has historically returned Labour MPs in its urban areas and Conservative MPs in its rural and suburban fringe.

At the 7 May 2026 elections, Reform UK took control of Lancashire County Council, making it one of 14 councils to fall under Reform control. Two days later, on 9 May 2026, Lancashire County Council became the first council in England to formally withdraw from the UK's national refugee resettlement scheme administered by the Home Office — the first concrete policy action by a Reform-controlled council in direct opposition to central government immigration policy. The scheme had placed 47 refugees with Lancashire host families in the preceding year.

A deferred vote nuance applies to the refugee resettlement withdrawal: the full council vote was scheduled for late May 2026, with the cabinet decision taken by the incoming Reform cabinet on 9 May as an urgent executive action pending full ratification. The withdrawal triggered an immediate response from the Home Office, which confirmed it was reviewing its legal options to compel participation. Lancashire's action set a precedent that other Reform-controlled councils have indicated they may follow.