Reform UK has delivered a warning to the political establishment with two overnight council by-election gains: neither Labour strongholds nor Liberal Democrat wards are beyond its reach.
From Worksop in Nottinghamshire to Halton in Cheshire, voters elected Reform councillors at the expense of two different parties, giving the party fresh victories to celebrate.
In Worksop East, Reform’s Nancy Wright stormed to victory with 600 votes in this by-election, defeating Labour by 115 and securing almost 46% of the vote. Labour finished on just over 37%.
Having not stood at the previous election, Reform went straight from no candidate to winning the seat. A ward Labour had previously dominated now has a Reform councillor.
The breakthrough came after Labour MP and Home Office minister Jo White resigned her council seat, citing potential conflicts between her ministerial responsibilities and council role.
From Worksop in Nottinghamshire to Halton in Cheshire, voters elected Reform councillors at the expense of two different parties, giving the party fresh victories to celebrate.
In Worksop East, Reform’s Nancy Wright stormed to victory with 600 votes in this by-election, defeating Labour by 115 and securing almost 46% of the vote. Labour finished on just over 37%.
Having not stood at the previous election, Reform went straight from no candidate to winning the seat. A ward Labour had previously dominated now has a Reform councillor.
The breakthrough came after Labour MP and Home Office minister Jo White resigned her council seat, citing potential conflicts between her ministerial responsibilities and council role.
The Westminster bubble is as out of touch as ever
But the night’s message extended well beyond Labour territory.
In Beechwood & Heath in Halton, Reform’s Neil Eric Thornton overturned a Liberal Democrat victory from as recently as May, winning the seat by 191 votes. Within months, a ward the Lib Dems had secured was electing a Reform representative.
Reform finished on 35.3%, nine percentage points clear of the Liberal Democrats. Labour came third, while the Lib Dem vote share plunged by more than 18 percentage points compared with May.
Taken together, the victories underline the breadth of Reform’s challenge. The party is taking the fight to Labour and the Liberal Democrats alike, showing why neither can afford to treat its council seats as safe or take their voters for granted
Celebrating the results, Farage declared: “Strong Reform wins overnight!”
“The Westminster bubble is as out of touch as ever”, he added.
Reform UK is now looking ahead for the chance to deliver the change its supporters are demanding nationally.
Looking ahead to that contest, Farage said: “The next election will be existential for Britain. I’ll deport everyone who is here illegally.”
In Beechwood & Heath in Halton, Reform’s Neil Eric Thornton overturned a Liberal Democrat victory from as recently as May, winning the seat by 191 votes. Within months, a ward the Lib Dems had secured was electing a Reform representative.
Reform finished on 35.3%, nine percentage points clear of the Liberal Democrats. Labour came third, while the Lib Dem vote share plunged by more than 18 percentage points compared with May.
Taken together, the victories underline the breadth of Reform’s challenge. The party is taking the fight to Labour and the Liberal Democrats alike, showing why neither can afford to treat its council seats as safe or take their voters for granted
Celebrating the results, Farage declared: “Strong Reform wins overnight!”
“The Westminster bubble is as out of touch as ever”, he added.
Reform UK is now looking ahead for the chance to deliver the change its supporters are demanding nationally.
Looking ahead to that contest, Farage said: “The next election will be existential for Britain. I’ll deport everyone who is here illegally.”
