Farage hails 'historic shift' as Reform UK wins hundreds of seats and more councils in England

Nigel Farage said he believes a "truly historic shift in British politics" is under way after Reform UK won hundreds of seats and took control of more councils in England, including its first London borough in Havering. The Reform leader argued the party is proving it can win in both Conservative and Labour heartlands and said he expected voter support would not be a "one-off".

The gains include surging to victory over the Conservatives in Essex and Suffolk and taking seats from Labour in the Midlands and the north of England. Increased support for Reform in areas including Hartlepool, Tameside, Redditch and Tamworth led to Labour losing control of the councils, while control of Newcastle-under-Lyme passed to Reform from the Conservatives.

In Wigan, where a third of seats were up for election, Reform won 24 out of 25 as Labour suffered heavy losses that reduced its majority on the council. Reform was in its infancy the last time these councils in England were contested, and when the national contests in Scotland and Wales took place.

The party gained control of 10 councils in England last year and has followed this up with further successes at the ballot box. Speaking after Reform secured control of Havering, Farage said the results show his party can win in areas that have always been Conservative as well as in places that Labour has dominated since the end of World War II.

He highlighted advances in former Labour strongholds dubbed the "red wall", which the Conservatives made gains in at the 2019 general election under Boris Johnson before suffering losses in 2024. Farage added he was convinced a "fundamental change" was taking place, saying voters "aren't just coming to us for a one-off, they're now becoming Reformers in every way".

Party figures said they expected a strong showing in the Welsh Parliament elections and to be "competitive" in Scotland. Zia Yusuf, Reform's home affairs spokesperson, told the BBC: "We're competitive in Scotland, we have a real chance of being the biggest party in Wales." Polling expert Sir John Curtice said Reform has done best in places that "voted heavily for Brexit" in 2016.

Counting is still taking place in Scotland, Wales and at tens of councils in England, with most results expected by the end of Friday.