Historic Gains for Reform UK in English Local Elections
Nigel Farage stated that a "truly historic shift in British politics" has taken place following Reform UK's success in winning hundreds of seats and gaining control of more councils across England.
The Reform UK leader emphasized that his party is demonstrating the ability to secure victories in traditional Conservative and Labour strongholds, and he anticipates that voter support will not be a "one-off" occurrence.
The party's notable achievements include securing control of its first London borough in Havering, achieving significant victories over the Conservative Party in Essex and Suffolk, and acquiring seats at Labour's expense in the Midlands and northern England.
Expanding Influence Beyond England
Reform UK party officials also anticipate a strong performance in the upcoming Welsh Parliament elections and expect to be "competitive" in Scotland.
It is important to note that Reform UK was newly established when these English councils were last contested, as well as during the previous national elections in Scotland and Wales.
Last year, the party gained control of 10 councils in England and has continued this momentum with further electoral successes.
Impact on Labour and Conservative Councils
Increased support for Reform UK in areas such as Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch, and Tamworth contributed to Labour losing control of those councils.
In Wigan, where a third of the council seats were up for election, Reform UK won 24 out of 25 seats, causing Labour to suffer substantial losses and reducing its majority on the council.
Additionally, control of Newcastle-under-Lyme shifted from the Conservatives to Reform UK.
Farage Comments on Political Realignment
Following Reform UK's acquisition of Havering council, Nigel Farage remarked:
"What's happened is a truly historic shift in British politics.
We've been so used to thinking about politics in terms of left and right, yet what Reform are able to do is to win in areas that have always been Conservative, but equally, we're proving in a big way that we could win in areas that Labour has dominated since the end of World War I."
Farage highlighted his party's success in former Labour strongholds, often referred to as the "red wall," which the Conservatives initially gained in the 2019 general election under Boris Johnson's leadership before experiencing losses in 2024.
He expressed confidence that a "fundamental change" is underway, with voters not merely supporting Reform UK as a one-time choice but increasingly becoming committed "Reformers in every way."
Farage added that Reform UK is "competitive right down from the southwest of England up to the northeast of Scotland."
Statements from Party Representatives and Experts
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson, told the BBC:
"We're competitive in Scotland, we have a real chance of being the biggest party in Wales."
Polling expert Sir John Curtice observed that Reform UK has performed best in areas that "voted heavily for Brexit" in the 2016 referendum.
Ongoing Counting and Results
Counting is still underway in Scotland, Wales, and numerous councils across England, with the majority of results expected by the end of Friday.
