Nigel Farage has declared that Reform UK is on course for a general election victory after the party made substantial gains in early local election results, while Labour suffered heavy losses. Speaking as results came in from 13 of 136 councils, Farage likened the progress to clearing Becher's Brook, a famously difficult jump in the Grand National, saying, "If we cleared Becher's Brook and landed well, we go on to win the Grand National."
Reform's Surge and Labour's Decline
Reform UK gained more than 150 seats in the early hours of Friday, while Labour lost over 120 seats, including in its traditional northern heartlands. In Halton, Cheshire, Labour held only two of the 17 seats it was defending, as Reform gained 15 councillors. In some wards, Reform won with over 50% of the vote. Labour also lost seats in Chorley, Wigan, and Hartlepool, where Reform won all 12 seats on offer, pushing the council into no overall control. Other Labour losses included Redditch, Tamworth, and Exeter.
Pressure on Starmer
The results have intensified speculation about Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash, whose wife lost her seat, called for Starmer to set a timetable for his departure. However, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy urged the party not to "play pass the parcel" with leadership, noting that Labour had suffered heavy defeats in 1999 before Tony Blair won a landslide in 2001. Labour sources pointed to that precedent, but the mood was bleak as the party faced a potential loss of up to 1,850 councillors.
Other Parties' Performance
The Liberal Democrats celebrated taking control of Stockport and Portsmouth councils, but lost their majority in Hull. The Greens expected "record-breaking" results, with leader Zack Polanski calling for Starmer to "listen to the people and go." The Conservatives managed to hold Harlow and Broxbourne, but continued to lose ground to Reform. Reform's Zia Yusuf predicted a "turquoise wave" across Labour heartlands, with Labour and the Tories struggling to reach 40% combined.
Scottish and Welsh Elections
In Scotland, all 129 Holyrood seats were up for election, while Wales chose 96 Senedd members. Results are expected later on Friday, but Labour faces losing the national vote in Wales for the first time in over a century, and the SNP is likely to remain the largest party in Scotland after 19 years in power.
