Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (Image: PA)

He said: “This for me was our Becher’s Brook. If we cleared Becher’s Brook and landed well, we go on to win the Grand National.

“What is very clear to me is that our voters will stick with us now all the way through.

“As you can see, we are scoring stunning percentages in traditional old Labour areas.

“We are way exceeding anything that I thought.”

Looking ahead to results expected later on Friday, he added: “What you’ll see is the same pattern repeated across the south when we win Essex by an extraordinary margin and Norfolk by an extraordinary margin.”

It comes as Reform gained 15 councillors in Halton, Cheshire, which was the first local authority to complete its count. In some wards, Reform won with more than 50% of the vote.

Reform claimed that Labour voters “are switching directly” to Mr Farage’s outfit.

The party said on X: “It’s clear that Labour voters are switching directly to Reform.

“We are penetrating the red wall in a way the pollsters and experts simply didn’t predict. Britain wants Reform.”

Nigel Farage Hails ‘Historic’ Reform Local Election Wins Over Labour

Nigel Farage has hailed what he describes as “historic” local election victories for Reform UK, after the party made significant gains at the expense of Labour in a series of closely watched contests. The results have intensified debate about Britain’s changing political landscape and raised questions about whether the traditional pattern of competition between Labour and the Conservatives is being replaced by a more fragmented political environment.

For Reform UK, the results represent an important opportunity to demonstrate that the party’s support extends beyond national opinion polls and can be translated into votes, councillors and control of local authorities. Farage has sought to portray the performance as evidence that voters are increasingly prepared to consider Reform as an alternative to the established parties.

The local elections have attracted particular attention because of the areas in which Reform has gained support. Labour has traditionally maintained strong support across many urban and working-class communities, while the Conservatives have historically dominated numerous areas elsewhere. Reform’s advances have challenged both assumptions, creating a more complicated electoral map.

Farage has made electoral expansion a central objective since becoming leader of Reform UK. His return to frontline politics has given the party a high-profile figure capable of attracting considerable media attention. His political message has focused heavily on immigration, national sovereignty, taxation, public spending, economic growth and dissatisfaction with established political institutions.

The local election results provide an important test of whether those themes can translate into sustained grassroots support. Winning council seats requires more than national recognition. It requires candidates, local organisation, activists and voters willing to participate in elections that often receive less attention than general elections.

Reform’s supporters argue that the latest results demonstrate that this process is already under way. They see the gains as evidence that voters who previously supported Labour or the Conservatives are increasingly willing to change allegiance.

The relationship between Reform and Labour is particularly significant. Labour entered government after its substantial victory at the 2024 general election, securing a large parliamentary majority. Yet the party has faced difficult political conditions since taking office, including debates over taxation, public services, living standards, immigration and economic policy.

For some voters, these issues have contributed to dissatisfaction with the government. Reform UK has attempted to capture that frustration by presenting itself as a political alternative that is willing to take positions outside the established consensus.

Farage has repeatedly argued that voters who supported Labour because they wanted political change could eventually become Reform supporters if they conclude that Labour has failed to meet their expectations. The local elections provide an early indication of whether that argument is gaining traction in particular communities.

However, the results should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that all Reform gains are the result of Labour voters switching directly to the party. Local elections have distinctive characteristics. Turnout is often lower than in general elections, and voters may make decisions based on local candidates, council services and specific community concerns.

Some voters may also have previously supported the Conservatives, smaller parties or no party at all. Others may have voted differently because they wanted to express dissatisfaction with the government without necessarily intending to support Reform at a future general election.

These factors make the results politically significant without making their long-term meaning certain.

For Labour, the results nonetheless present a challenge. Local election setbacks can affect a party’s organisation and morale while providing opponents with additional visibility and political momentum. Reform councillors can also use local government positions to establish a stronger presence in communities where the party previously had limited representation.

The Conservatives face a different but related challenge. Reform’s growth can divide support on the right of British politics, potentially creating difficult electoral calculations in constituencies where several parties compete closely. At the same time, Reform’s expansion gives voters more choices and makes it harder for the traditional parties to rely on established patterns of support.

One of the most important questions is whether Reform UK can turn local electoral success into a durable national organisation. The party has previously achieved significant vote shares without winning a proportionate number of parliamentary seats because of Britain’s first-past-the-post electoral system.

Local elections offer a way to build political infrastructure between general elections. Councillors can develop local profiles, recruit activists and gain experience in government. Successful local administration could potentially strengthen the party’s credibility, while difficulties in managing councils would expose Reform politicians to a different form of scrutiny.

That transition from opposition campaigning to local government responsibility can be significant. Campaigning allows parties to focus on promises and criticisms, whereas running councils involves practical decisions about budgets, services, staffing and infrastructure.

For Farage, therefore, celebrating the results is only one part of a much larger political project. The next question is what Reform councillors do with their new responsibilities.

Immigration remains one of the issues most closely associated with Reform UK. The party has called for substantial changes to Britain’s approach to migration and has criticised successive governments over the scale and management of immigration. These arguments have helped Reform distinguish itself from Labour and the Conservatives.

Economic issues are also central to the party’s appeal. Reform has sought to attract voters concerned about taxation, household finances and the perceived cost of government. In communities where people feel that economic pressures have not been adequately addressed, such messages can become particularly important during elections.

At the same time, Reform’s expanding profile means that its policies are likely to face greater scrutiny. Questions about how its proposals would be funded, implemented and administered are likely to become increasingly prominent as the party gains political responsibility.

Farage’s personal role remains another important element of Reform’s development. His long experience in British politics and his involvement in the Brexit campaign have made him one of the country’s most recognisable political figures. His supporters regard that experience as an asset, while his opponents frequently challenge his political programme and methods.

The local election results nevertheless demonstrate that Reform has become an established participant in electoral competition in Britain. Regardless of how individual contests develop, the party’s ability to win council seats represents a significant organisational change compared with its earlier position as a predominantly national campaigning movement.

The results may also influence the strategies of Labour and the Conservatives. Labour could face pressure to respond more directly to concerns among voters who have moved towards Reform, particularly on issues such as immigration, taxation and public services. The Conservatives may similarly need to consider how to compete with Reform while maintaining their own political identity.

Meanwhile, other parties will be monitoring the changing electoral landscape. The Liberal Democrats and Greens can also benefit from voters moving away from the traditional major parties, while regional political dynamics in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland add further complexity to Britain’s electoral system.

The phrase “historic victory” therefore has both immediate and longer-term dimensions. In the immediate sense, Reform UK can point to new councillors and local election successes. In the longer term, the significance depends on whether those victories become part of a sustained pattern of support.

British electoral politics has repeatedly demonstrated that political fortunes can change quickly. Parties that appear dominant at one point can experience major setbacks at the next election, while movements once regarded as peripheral can become central to political debate.

Reform UK now has an opportunity to demonstrate that its local election performance represents more than a temporary protest vote. Building a durable political organisation, maintaining public support and demonstrating effective administration will all be important tests.

For Labour, the results provide another reminder that winning a large parliamentary majority does not necessarily eliminate electoral competition. Governments must continue to respond to changing public concerns, particularly when voters have alternative parties available.

Farage’s celebration of the results reflects Reform UK’s confidence that its political project is expanding. The victories over Labour give the party additional councillors, greater local visibility and a platform from which to campaign in future elections.

Whether this becomes a permanent transformation of British politics remains an open question. What is clear is that Reform UK has used the local elections to strengthen its presence and challenge established parties in places where its influence was previously limited.

The coming months will reveal whether the party can consolidate those gains. For now, Farage’s declaration of “historic” success captures the importance Reform UK attaches to the results: they provide a tangible demonstration that the party’s national message can be translated into local electoral support and that Britain’s political competition is continuing to evolve.

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