Full Breakdown
Reform UK’s Surge in England’s Local Councils Signals Potential Realignment
5/9/2026, 11:04:38 PM
Core Election Sweep
Reform UK won hundreds of council seats, taking its first London borough in Havering and flipping Labour-run councils in Barnsley, Wakefield, Sunderland and Gateshead; it also secured 24 of 25 seats in Wigan, ending Labour’s majority and shifting Newcastle-under-Lyme from Conservative to Reform control.
Context and Vote Share
Analysts linked the gains to strong Brexit support, and Sir John Curtice projected a 26 % national vote share for Reform, ahead of the Greens (18 %) and level with Labour and the Conservatives (both 17 %).
Results Overview
Beyond England, Reform earned two seats on the North-East Scotland regional list and fell short in Banffshire and Buchan Coast by 364 votes to SNP incumbent Karen Adam. In Aberdeen West, Conservative Alexander Burnett’s 42.9 % share was boosted by Reform’s vote split, which he said helped the SNP elsewhere. Council victories stretched from the southwest of England to the northeast of Scotland. The party also secured two seats on the Scottish regional list, filled by Duncan Massey and Mark Simpson, expanding its legislative presence beyond England.
Why It Matters
The surge challenges the Labour-Conservative duopoly in local government, giving Reform a platform to influence housing, services and fiscal policy.
Official Statements
Farage described the result as a historic shift in British politics and warned that the support is not a fleeting trend. Stone said fairness guides his council work. Miller emphasized the need for stronger coordination between county and borough authorities. Trumm said his victory felt like a great honour and a heavy responsibility. Jordan pledged to collaborate with any partner to improve housing and infrastructure. Burnett said that winning again was a great honour.
Criticism
Carol Vorderman called Farage “the worst thing” in British politics and criticised his parliamentary attendance, while GB News presenter Alex Armstrong mocked her on social media.
Conflicting Reports
Curtice’s 26 % projection lacks direct verification from the local seat-level results, which do not provide aggregate vote percentages. Additionally, the precise number of councils now under Reform control has not been published.
Verbatim Quotes
- “truly historic shift in British politics” — Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader
- “the worst thing” in British politics. — Carol Vorderman, former Countdown presenter
- “My business, my life, everything has been about fairness, and fairness is really important, and doesn't seem to be following through with most councils at the moment,” — Alan Stone, Basingstoke councillor
- “We're a very new branch, but we came together so well, and this isn't because of me, this is because of the members, because of the volunteers and the voters,” — Christina Jordan, Basingstoke councillor
- “a tremendous honour and a tremendous responsibility.” — Steve Trumm, Reform UK councillor
What’s Next
Reform will aim to consolidate council influence ahead of upcoming by-elections and the next general election.
