Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party secured a parliamentary seat, a mayoral victory, and dozens of local council positions in early election results on Friday, marking a significant challenge to Britain’s traditional political powerhouses.
The most closely watched contest was in the parliamentary constituency of Runcorn and Helsby, where Reform won by just six votes after a full recount. The victory handed Farage’s party its fifth seat in the House of Commons and underscored a dramatic collapse in support for Labour, which had won the seat by nearly 15,000 votes in last year’s general election.
“It’s been a huge night for Reform,” Farage told reporters. “This is heartland Labour territory—their vote has collapsed, and much of it has come to us.” He declared the Conservative Party, which has governed Britain for much of the past century, effectively “toast,” adding, “You’re witnessing the end of a party that’s been around since 1832.”
Reform Gains Ground Amid Voter Disillusionment
Reform’s success extended beyond the parliamentary race. The party won the mayoralty in Greater Lincolnshire, with former Conservative minister Andrea Jenkyns—who defected after losing her seat last year—becoming its most prominent elected official. Jenkyns pledged to end “soft touch Britain” and called for asylum seekers to be housed in tents rather than hotels.
The party also led in early local council tallies, though only a fraction of the 1,600 seats up for grabs had been declared. The results signal a fracturing of Britain’s political landscape, with Reform positioning itself as the main opposition to Labour amid widespread dissatisfaction with both major parties.
Labour, which won a historic parliamentary majority last summer under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has seen its popularity decline rapidly. The government has faced backlash over tax hikes and cuts to elderly benefits, which it argues are necessary to repair public finances after 14 years of Conservative rule.
“The results show voters clearly expect the government to move faster,” a Labour spokesperson said. But some within the party acknowledged discontent. Ros Jones, Labour’s victorious mayoral candidate in Doncaster, admitted her party was being punished for austerity measures, saying Starmer’s government was not listening to voters.
A Shifting Political Landscape
Reform, founded as the Brexit Party in 2018, was initially dismissed as a single-issue movement focused on immigration. But it has surged in recent months, outpacing both Labour and the Conservatives in some polls. Farage, a longtime ally of Donald Trump, has sought to distance himself from some of the U.S. president’s more controversial policies to avoid alienating voters.
Analysts say the local election results could provide Reform with momentum to build its grassroots network ahead of the next general election, expected in 2029. “Reform UK looks like the real deal this morning,” said Keiran Pedley, Director of Politics at Ipsos. “But with increased support comes scrutiny. They’ll need to prove they can deliver the change their voters want.”
The Conservatives, now led by right-leaning Kemi Badenoch, suffered expected losses as the party struggles to recover from last year’s historic defeat. Co-chairman Nigel Huddleston acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying rebuilding trust would “take us a long time.”
For Starmer, the results serve as a warning. Speaking to reporters, he vowed to accelerate reforms, saying, “We get it. We were elected to bring about change, and I am determined we will go further and faster.”
As Britain’s political realignment continues, Reform’s rise suggests a turbulent road ahead for the country’s traditional parties.