LONDON — The anti-immigration Reform U.K. party achieved notable victories in local elections across England on Friday, signaling a rising wave of populist support similar to trends seen in other parts of Europe and the United States. These elections are the first broad measure of public opinion since the Labour Party’s landslide win over the Conservatives in last year’s general election.
While full results were still being finalized, Reform U.K. saw significant advances, winning numerous council seats, securing its first-ever mayoral post, and narrowly clinching a parliamentary seat long held by Labour in its first by-election success—by just six votes.
Roughly 1,600 seats were contested across about two dozen local councils in England. Though not a national election, the results serve as a critical indicator of voter mood. The outcome was a warning sign for Labour, whose leadership has come under fire for failing to deliver promised improvements to public services and living standards. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced backlash for reducing fuel subsidies for retirees and increasing taxes on businesses and farmers. His shift to more conservative positions—such as cutting foreign aid and tightening immigration rules—appeared ineffective in curbing Reform’s momentum.
Labour still performed relatively well in major mayoral races and the Liberal Democrats also saw gains, but the standout story was Reform U.K.’s transformation from fringe protest party to credible electoral force. The party unseated numerous Conservative candidates and made notable inroads in former Labour strongholds, especially in postindustrial areas.
These gains support polling that projected a surge in support for the right-wing party, which evolved from earlier anti-EU movements that led to the 2016 Brexit vote. Thursday’s election marked the most successful result ever for a Euroskeptic party in Britain and highlighted growing public disillusionment with traditional political options.
“This is an unprecedented moment,” said political analyst John Curtice. “The Conservatives remain weak, Labour has lost momentum, and Reform is the biggest gainer since last summer.”
Reform U.K. founder Nigel Farage declared the party as the new main opposition force, claiming it has surpassed the Conservatives in influence and momentum. “We’ve replaced the Conservative Party as the true opposition,” he told the BBC.
The outcome increases pressure on Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who was elected to revitalize the party after its 2024 defeat. Analysts expect heightened internal debate within Conservative ranks over the weekend regarding her leadership. Still, party co-chair Nigel Huddleston defended Badenoch’s leadership, calling her position “solid” and brushing off Farage’s claims as “not credible,” pointing to the Conservative Party’s current control of 121 parliamentary seats compared to Reform’s five.
Reform’s by-election win in Runcorn and Helsby, decided by a razor-thin margin after a recount, was seen as symbolic. The Labour-held seat became vulnerable following the resignation of MP Mike Amesbury, who was convicted of assault.
Despite the specifics of the local races, Reform’s performance has elevated its national profile. “They now look like a party with real momentum, while both Labour and the Conservatives struggle,” said government professor Tony Travers.
Reform U.K.’s rise reflects the broader surge of populist, right-wing parties across Europe. It is the latest iteration of Nigel Farage’s long-standing campaign to distance Britain from Europe, rooted in his earlier leadership of UKIP and efforts leading to Brexit.
In last year’s general election, Reform captured 14.3% of the vote and five parliamentary seats, becoming the third-largest party by vote share. Farage, a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, has recently tried to distance himself from some of Trump’s more controversial policies, particularly his stance on Ukraine and trade.
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