Reform UK Surges in Local Elections, Shaking Labour and Conservative Strongholds

Reform UK Makes Major Gains in Local Elections as Labour and Conservatives Stumble

Reform UK has made a significant breakthrough in the 2025 local elections, securing more than 600 council seats and taking control of 10 local authorities, a development that signals a major shift in the British political landscape.

The party, led by Nigel Farage, capitalized on widespread voter dissatisfaction with both Labour and the Conservatives. In a major upset, Reform UK overturned a substantial Labour majority in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, winning by just six votes — a result seen as emblematic of growing frustration with the political establishment.

Labour, despite being the party in government, experienced its worst local election performance in 15 years. Many within the party attribute the losses to controversial welfare reforms, including cuts to winter fuel payments, which have alienated traditional working-class voters.

The Conservative Party fared even worse, seeing its vote share collapse to just 17%. Senior figures within the party described the results as an existential crisis, pointing to a failure to reconnect with voters and a lack of compelling policy direction. Reform UK’s surge, particularly in traditional Conservative areas, has raised serious questions about the future of the party.

Reform UK’s campaign focused on rejecting net-zero targets, opposing diversity and inclusion roles in public services, and calling for strict immigration controls. While these positions have drawn strong support from some voters, the party is also facing criticism after reports emerged that several newly elected councillors had shared far-right and Islamophobic content online.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party both made solid gains. The Lib Dems gained control of councils in Cambridgeshire, Shropshire, and Oxfordshire, while the Greens expanded their presence across multiple authorities.

As the dust settles, the local election results suggest that the dominance of Labour and the Conservatives is under increasing threat, with Reform UK now positioning itself as a serious challenger ahead of the next general election.