Reform on course for general election win, claims triumphant Farage

WorldPolitics
8 May 2026 • 10:14 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Reform on course for general election win, claims triumphant Farage

  • Nigel Farage declared "historic change in British politics" following local election results, suggesting Reform UK is positioned for a general election victory, with bookmakers William Hill placing the party at 10/11 odds to win the most seats.
  • Reform UK has gained 423 councillors, significantly impacting Labour and Conservative strongholds, with Labour losing 269 councillors and the Conservatives 183.
  • The party made notable gains by taking control of councils such as Tameside, Hartlepool, Redditch, and Tamworth from Labour, and Newcastle-under-Lyme from the Conservatives, alongside gains in Dudley, Southampton, and Plymouth.
  • Keiran Pedley, politics director at Ipsos, views Reform UK's widespread success across the country, including significant gains against Labour in the north, as evidence of the party's emergence as a national force capable of building a campaigning base.
  • Conversely, pollster Peter Kellner suggested Reform UK's support might have peaked, noting a drop from 41% of seats contested last year to around 33% this year, and warned that the first-past-the-post system's bonus for the party is shrinking, potentially leading to fewer wins in future.

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