Hope for change after councils change hands
BBCResidents say they are hoping for change after Reform UK took control of Walsall and Sandwell councils.
In Walsall, Reform had previously held no seats, but secured 40 of the council's 60 seats to seize control. Former Conservative leader Mike Bird lost his seat by nine votes.
The party also won 41 seats in Sandwell, where Labour had previously been in control for 47 years.
In the town centres some shoppers said concerns about immigration was a key issue.
"Yeah, I voted for them [Reform]," said Linda Beddow, a lifelong resident of Walsall who was shopping at the market on Saturday.
"Something's got to be done, look at Walsall."
A Metro report a few months ago suggested living in the town was like "a real-life" episode of tv programme Shameless and a "war-zone", although some residents disagreed.
While she said she hoped the council would "brighten Walsall up a bit", she said her vote was due to concerns over immigration.
"There's too many people coming in the country, this is a little island, we're not France or Germany or America," she added.
Based on census data, one in seven Walsall residents was born outside the UK.
One man, who did not give his name, said: "For me, as an immigrant, the way it will affect us, I don't know.
"We don't have any other option to adapt and adjust to whatever it is, so I believe with time, everything will be okay.
Fellow shopper Robert Duggan said Walsall, and the whole country "needs a change".
"Potholes...that's another thing we need to sort out, and all the empty shops," he said.
For Kate Igbinigie, the political party in charge was not important.
"I really want any party that comes in [as long as] they do the job for the people," she said.
"Do what the people need."
On Friday, one new Reform UK councillor, Elaine Williams, said she wanted to see the council bring businesses back into the town centre, as well as tackling issues such as the fate of the Leather Museum and the authority's planning process.
Reform was set to elect a new group leader imminently and the new full council will meet on 18 May.
Shoppers in West Bromwich High Street, which falls under Sandwell Council's control, also had immigration on their minds.
Gary Wright voted for Reform UK and said the result is "absolutely brilliant".
"They need to sort it all out, well the immigration mainly, there's a lot of trouble with immigration so, that was the main thing."
Swatantar Sony is Indian but has been living in West Bromwich for three years under the Ukraine Scheme, a project which gives support to Ukrainian nationals affected by the invasion of Russia. He still has family in Ukraine.
He said he voted for Reform UK because he is concerned about illegal immigration.
"For example, there's a lot of students, a lot of immigrants from different countries...but no one has control of these things."
In Sandwell, Labour lost 37 seats, the Tories lost six, the Green Party gained two, with one independent seat held.
Former Sandwell Council leader Kerrie Carmichael lost her Blackheath seat.
But not everyone is convinced the change of power will lead to change for residents.
Linda McAllister said: "I think they're all the same.
"They all want you to vote, but after its done, you don't hear nothing.
"Look how long the bin strike has gone on. The state of the country is just a mess."
Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
