Reform election gains show historic shift in British politics, says Farage

Nigel Farage has articulated his belief that a "truly historic shift in British politics" has transpired following the successful efforts of Reform UK, which has secured hundreds of seats and gained control of numerous councils across England.

The leader of Reform UK stated that the party is demonstrating its capability to win in districts traditionally held by the Conservatives and Labour, expressing confidence that the support from voters is not merely a transient phenomenon.

Among the party's notable achievements is the capture of its first London borough in Havering, alongside significant victories against the Conservative Party in Essex and Suffolk. Furthermore, Reform UK made inroads at the expense of Labour in various regions across the Midlands and northern England.

Reform UK anticipates a strong performance in the upcoming Welsh Parliament elections and is expecting to be "competitive" in Scotland.

In the previous election cycle, the party was still in its early stages when these local councils in England were contested, as well as during the national elections in Scotland and Wales.

Having gained control of 10 councils in England last year, the party has now built upon those successes with additional accomplishments in the latest elections.

Increased backing for Reform in constituencies such as Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch, and Tamworth has resulted in Labour losing control of several councils.

In Wigan, one-third of the council's seats were contested, where Reform triumphed with 24 out of 25, leading to substantial losses for Labour and a significant reduction in their majority.

The control of Newcastle-under-Lyme has shifted from the Conservatives to Reform UK.

Following the party's acquisition of control in Havering, Farage stated: "What's happened is a truly historic shift in British politics."

He emphasized the evolution in political dynamics, noting, "We've been so used to thinking about politics in terms of left and right, yet what Reform are able to do is to win in areas that have always been Conservative, but equally, we're proving in a big way that we could win in areas that Labour has dominated since the end of World War I."

Farage underscored the party's successes in previously Labour-dominated areas, often referred to as the "red wall," which the Conservatives initially made gains in during the 2019 general election under Boris Johnson’s leadership, but later experienced losses in 2024.

He expressed a conviction that a "fundamental change" is underway, as voters are increasingly aligning with Reform as a lasting choice rather than a one-time decision.

The party remains "competitive right down from the southwest of England up to the northeast of Scotland," Farage stated.

Zia Yusuf, Reform's home affairs spokesperson, conveyed to the BBC that the party is indeed competitive in Scotland and believes there is a genuine opportunity to emerge as the largest party in Wales.

Polling expert Sir John Curtice noted that Reform has performed particularly well in regions that "voted heavily for Brexit" in 2016.

As counting continues in Scotland, Wales, and across numerous councils in England, the majority of results are expected to be finalized by the end of Friday.