Reform UK Makes Local Election Gains as Political Landscape in Britain Shifts

Nigel Farage’s right-leaning Reform UK party has made significant early advances in England’s local elections and secured a dramatic by-election win, marking the party’s strongest showing since the last general election.

In what is being seen as a critical test of the country’s political mood, Reform UK won the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary seat by a razor-thin margin—just six votes—following a full recount. This constituency had previously been a Labour stronghold, with the party winning it by nearly 15,000 votes in last year’s national poll.

The win signals growing voter dissatisfaction with the traditional political establishment. Farage’s Reform party, known for its populist message and anti-establishment stance, is positioning itself as a serious challenger to the longstanding dominance of the Labour and Conservative parties in UK politics.

Reform leader Nigel Farage, a key figure in the Brexit campaign and a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has framed the results as the beginning of a political shake-up. The party hopes its momentum in local elections will accelerate the decline of Britain’s two-party system.

Across England, voters went to the polls on Thursday to elect more than 1,600 local councillors and choose mayors in six prominent city regions.

One of the highest-profile victories for Reform came in Greater Lincolnshire, where former Conservative minister Andrea Jenkyns—who defected to Reform after losing her seat in 2024—was elected as the region's first mayor. Her win gives Reform UK its most influential political role to date, with oversight of a region serving around one million residents.

Reform UK also made notable inroads in other key areas, nearly unseating Labour candidates in contests held in North Tyneside, the West of England, and Doncaster.

The backdrop to Reform's rise is growing discontent with the Labour government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Despite securing a historic majority in last year’s general election, Starmer’s administration has seen a rapid drop in public support. Policy decisions such as tax increases, reductions in elderly benefits, and controversy over political donations have eroded Labour’s approval ratings, creating an opportunity for Farage and his party to attract disillusioned voters.

The Runcorn and Helsby by-election was triggered by the resignation of a Labour MP, who stepped down after being convicted of assaulting a constituent.

With voter dissatisfaction rising and the Reform UK party gaining traction, the UK’s political landscape may be on the cusp of significant transformation.

(Sources: CNBC.com)