Nigel Farage has hailed a 'historic shift in British politics' after Reform UK made significant gains in the English local elections, taking control of Essex county council, Havering in London, and Sunderland city council. The party advanced in both Labour and Conservative heartlands, securing its first London local authority and ending decades of Labour control in Sunderland.
However, the results also included setbacks, such as failing to take Harlow in Essex, a past general election bellwether, and falling short in Bexley, another London target. Pollster Peter Kellner suggested Reform may have peaked, noting that its share of seats contested in England dropped from 41% last year to around 35% this year. 'It seems clear that Reform has peaked,' he said.
Farage dismissed such concerns, stating the party is 'two-thirds' of the way to its general election goals. He declared the door closed to Tory defectors but said the time was right for talks with 'patriotic old Labour' MPs. Reform's home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, warned that if the local results were repeated nationally, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch would lose her seat.
In Wales, Reform finished second in Senedd elections with 34 seats, while Plaid Cymru fell six seats short of a majority. Labour won just nine seats, finishing third. Early analysis by the Guardian showed Reform's vote share grew most in areas with higher socioeconomic deprivation.
