Reform UK, a right-wing party, has gained control of ten out of the 23 local authorities contested in recent elections.
The Reform UK party has secured 677 seats out of over 1,600 in England’s local elections, marking significant losses for both the Labour and Conservative parties nationwide.
As the election results were released on Friday, Nigel Farage’s Reform UK emerged as the frontrunner in the 23 local authority contests across England, taking control of ten councils. This includes eight from the Conservatives – Derbyshire, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, North Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, and West Northamptonshire – as well as Doncaster from Labour, and Durham, where no party previously held a majority.
Reform UK also narrowly won parliamentary by-elections in Runcorn and Helsby, defeating Labour by a mere six votes after a recount. Consequently, the party now holds five seats in the UK Parliament.
According to BBC projections, if a general election were held currently, Reform UK would receive 30% of the vote, surpassing Labour at 20% and the Conservatives at 15%. However, the next general election is scheduled for May 2029. The previous election saw Labour achieve a decisive victory, driven by public discontent with the Conservative’s economic policies.
Farage commented on his party’s progress: “No party has ever defeated both Labour and the Tories in a local election in post-war Britain. These results are unprecedented… Reform can and will win the next general election.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged feeling “a sharp edge of fury,” but stated that he understood the voters’ decision and pledged to “go further and faster in pursuit of… national renewal.” Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch described the elections as a predictable “bloodbath,” emphasizing the need for the Tories to rebuild trust.
Reform UK’s ascendance is attributed to voter dissatisfaction with high immigration levels, the increasing cost of living, and perceived mismanagement by the major parties. The party campaigned heavily on reducing migration, including small boat crossings, lowering taxes, and cutting council spending, positioning itself as the sole alternative to what it deems “a failed political establishment.”
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