Prime Minister Andy Burnham (Image: Getty)
Labour has suffered another bruising election defeat after Reform UK seized a council seat in a former stronghold, handing Prime Minister Andy Burnham an embarrassing setback. Reform overturned Labour’s hold on Worksop East in Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, with candidate Nancy Wright taking 600 votes to secure victory.
Labour’s Cameron Holt was pushed into second place with 485 votes, giving Reform a majority of 115. The result represents a major reversal for Labour, which comfortably won all three seats in the ward at the previous district council elections in May 2023. According to figures published by Election Maps UK, Labour’s share of the vote was down 34.4 percentage points compared with the previous election in 2023.
The by-election was forced by the resignation of Jo White MP, currently as Home Office minister (Image: PA)
However, the comparison comes with an important caveat. Worksop East was a three-seat ward in 2023, meaning voters could cast up to three votes, whereas Thursday’s contest was a single-seat by-election. The figures therefore do not represent a straightforward like-for-like comparison of Labour’s support.
Nevertheless, Reform secured 45.9% of the vote, against Labour’s 37.1%, giving the party a clear victory in the contest.
Restore Britain’s Anne Froggatt finished third with 7%, while Conservative candidate Ben Storey managed just 6.8%.
The Green Party’s Anne Kean came fifth with 3.2%.
The result will be an unwelcome development for Mr Burnham, who succeeded Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister in July and has been seeking to rebuild Labour’s political fortunes.
Reform’s victory demonstrates the party’s continuing ability to make significant inroads into areas which have traditionally returned Labour councillors.
The scale of the turnaround is particularly striking given Labour’s performance in 2023, when Jo White, Cliff Entwistle and Debbie Merryweather were all elected to represent Worksop East.
Ms White secured 824 votes, Mr Entwistle 805 and Ms Merryweather 770.
The by-election was triggered by Ms White’s resignation from Bassetlaw District Council after she took advice from senior officials about a potential conflict between her responsibilities as a Home Office minister and her council role.
She said at the time: “My ministerial responsibilities can, at times, overlap with the work of local government, creating the risk of potential conflicts of interest between the two roles.
“I believe stepping down is the right decision.”
A total of 1,304 ballot papers were issued in Thursday’s by-election, with turnout recorded at 27.82%.
The result adds to the pressure on Labour as Reform continues to challenge the party’s support in communities across England.
Humiliation for Andy Burnham as Labour Vote Nosedives 34% in Election Hammering by Reform UK
Andy Burnham’s Labour government has suffered another embarrassing electoral setback after Reform UK secured a significant victory in a council by-election in Nottinghamshire. The result has intensified pressure on the Prime Minister, raising fresh questions about Labour’s declining popularity and Nigel Farage’s growing influence across traditionally Labour-supporting communities.
Reform UK overturned Labour’s previous hold on Worksop East in Bassetlaw, with its candidate Nancy Wright defeating Labour’s Cameron Holt by 600 votes to 485. The result represents an important political breakthrough for Farage’s party in an area where Labour had previously enjoyed considerable electoral support.
Even more striking was the reported 34.4 percentage-point decline in Labour’s vote share compared with the previous election in 2023. Although the comparison needs to be treated carefully because the earlier election was a three-seat contest, the outcome nevertheless provides another indication of the changing political landscape in Britain.
For Burnham, the result is an uncomfortable reminder that becoming Prime Minister does not automatically guarantee that voters will return to Labour. Meanwhile, Farage has another opportunity to argue that Reform UK is becoming the main political alternative for voters who have lost confidence in the established parties.
1. Reform UK Delivers a Major Blow to Labour
The Worksop East by-election has provided Nigel Farage with another significant political victory.
Reform UK’s candidate Nancy Wright secured 600 votes, defeating Labour candidate Cameron Holt, who received 485 votes. The winning margin was 115 votes.
The result is particularly important because Labour previously held all three council seats in the ward during the May 2023 district council elections.
For Reform, winning the seat represents an opportunity to demonstrate that its appeal extends beyond traditional Conservative-supporting communities.
The party has increasingly targeted areas where voters have become frustrated with immigration, taxation, economic difficulties and the performance of successive governments.
Worksop East is therefore an important example of how Reform UK is attempting to expand its electoral support.
Although a single council by-election cannot determine the outcome of a future general election, it can provide valuable evidence about changing political attitudes.
For Labour, losing a previously secure seat will be particularly concerning because the party needs to rebuild support in communities that have traditionally provided an important foundation for its electoral success.
2. Labour’s Vote Share Suffers a Dramatic Decline
One of the most striking figures emerging from the result is the reported 34.4 percentage-point fall in Labour’s vote share compared with 2023.
This figure has attracted considerable attention because it highlights the scale of the difference between Labour’s previous electoral performance and its latest result.
However, there is an important qualification.
Worksop East was a three-seat ward in 2023, allowing voters to cast up to three votes. The October 2026 contest was a single-seat by-election.
Consequently, the two elections are not directly comparable, and the 34.4 figure should not be interpreted as a straightforward 34.4 per cent collapse in Labour’s overall support.
Nevertheless, the latest result remains politically significant.
Reform secured 45.9 per cent of the vote, compared with Labour’s 37.1 per cent.
The Conservatives received just 6.8 per cent, while Restore Britain secured 7 per cent and the Green Party received 3.2 per cent.
These figures demonstrate that Reform was able to establish a clear advantage over Labour in this particular contest.
For Burnham, the challenge is understanding why Labour is struggling to maintain its support in communities where the party previously performed strongly.
3. Nigel Farage Sees Another Opportunity to Challenge Labour
Nigel Farage will undoubtedly view the result as an important opportunity to strengthen Reform UK’s political message.
The Reform leader has repeatedly argued that traditional political parties have failed to listen to ordinary British voters.
His party has concentrated on issues including immigration control, reducing taxation, national sovereignty and improving economic opportunities.
Farage believes that many people who previously supported Labour or the Conservatives are increasingly dissatisfied with the political establishment.
The Worksop East victory gives Reform another example to support its argument that British politics is undergoing a major transformation.
It also demonstrates the party’s ability to compete in areas where Labour previously enjoyed a strong electoral position.
However, Reform must now prove that it can maintain this support over a longer period.
Winning individual council seats is important, but becoming a credible national governing alternative requires experienced candidates, detailed policies and a convincing economic programme.
Farage will need to demonstrate that his party can deliver practical improvements rather than simply benefit from dissatisfaction with Labour.
4. Andy Burnham Faces Growing Pressure
For Andy Burnham, the result creates another political headache.
Since becoming Prime Minister, he has attempted to rebuild Labour’s reputation and restore confidence among voters who have become increasingly frustrated with the party.
However, the Worksop East result suggests that Labour’s difficulties cannot simply be resolved through a change in leadership.
Many voters are concerned about the cost of living, taxation, immigration and the future of public services.
They want to see tangible improvements rather than additional political promises.
Burnham must therefore demonstrate that his government understands the concerns of ordinary households.
If Labour continues losing support in areas where it previously performed strongly, the consequences could become increasingly serious.
The Prime Minister also faces the challenge of maintaining unity within his own party while dealing with criticism from opposition politicians.
Farage is likely to exploit every electoral setback to argue that Labour has failed to deliver the political change Britain needs.
5. Why Are Traditional Labour Voters Turning Away?
There are several possible explanations for Labour’s difficulties.
First, the cost of living remains a major concern. Families continue to face pressure from housing costs, energy bills, food prices and taxation.
Second, immigration remains a politically sensitive issue. Some voters believe that the government needs to take stronger action to control illegal migration and reduce pressure on public services.
Third, economic uncertainty has affected confidence among businesses and workers.
Many people want a government that can deliver stronger economic growth, better employment opportunities and more affordable living conditions.
Finally, there is a broader problem of political trust.
Voters who supported Labour in the previous general election may now feel disappointed if they believe that the government has failed to deliver the changes it promised.
Reform UK has attempted to capitalise on these frustrations by presenting itself as a party prepared to challenge established political thinking.
However, it would be misleading to assume that every former Labour voter is moving directly to Reform. Political support is changing for several reasons, including abstention and competition from the Greens and Liberal Democrats.
6. The Conservatives Are Also Facing a Serious Problem
<text weight=”medium”>The Worksop East result is not only bad news for Labour.</text>
The Conservatives performed particularly poorly, receiving just 6.8 per cent of the vote.
This is another indication of the difficulties facing Kemi Badenoch as she attempts to rebuild the party.
For years, the Conservatives were the principal alternative to Labour in many parts of England.
However, Reform UK has increasingly challenged that position.
Farage has attracted voters who previously supported the Conservatives but became dissatisfied with their handling of immigration, taxation, Brexit and economic policy.
The Conservatives now face competition from two directions.
They must regain voters who have moved towards Reform while also convincing former supporters that the party can once again be trusted to govern effectively.
If Reform continues winning seats in both Conservative and Labour areas, the traditional two-party structure of British politics could become increasingly difficult to maintain.
7. Could Reform UK Become Britain’s Dominant Political Force?
The result in Worksop East adds to the growing discussion about whether Reform UK can become a major national political force.
The party has already demonstrated that it can attract substantial support from voters dissatisfied with the established political parties.
Its message on immigration, taxation and national sovereignty has proved particularly attractive to sections of the electorate.
However, winning a local by-election is very different from winning a general election.
Reform must demonstrate that it can build a nationwide organisation, recruit capable parliamentary candidates and develop policies that stand up to detailed economic scrutiny.
It must also convince voters who may agree with Farage’s criticism of Labour but remain uncertain about whether Reform is ready to govern.
Nevertheless, the latest result will strengthen the party’s confidence.
It gives Farage another opportunity to argue that the political establishment is losing its grip on traditional voting patterns.
8. What Does This Mean for the Next General Election?
The Worksop East result could have wider implications for the next general election.
Under Britain’s first-past-the-post electoral system, relatively small changes in support can determine which party wins individual constituencies.
If Reform continues making progress in traditionally Labour-supporting areas, the government could face serious difficulties defending some of its parliamentary seats.
At the same time, the Conservatives will need to prevent further losses to Farage’s party.
Labour cannot rely entirely on the weakness of its opponents. It must demonstrate that its policies are improving the lives of ordinary people.
The coming months will therefore be important for all three parties.
Burnham needs to restore public confidence, Badenoch must rebuild the Conservatives, and Farage must prove that Reform UK can translate its growing support into lasting electoral success.
The political battle is becoming increasingly competitive, and the outcome could reshape Britain’s political landscape.
Conclusion
Andy Burnham’s Labour government has suffered another uncomfortable electoral setback after Reform UK captured Worksop East in a council by-election.
Nancy Wright’s victory over Labour’s Cameron Holt, combined with Reform’s 45.9 per cent vote share, represents a significant result for Nigel Farage.
The reported 34.4 percentage-point decline in Labour’s vote share compared with 2023 has attracted particular attention, although the difference between the previous three-seat election and the latest single-seat contest means that the figures should not be treated as a direct comparison.
Nevertheless, the political message is difficult for Labour to ignore.
Voters are increasingly willing to consider alternatives when they feel that traditional parties have failed to address their concerns about taxation, immigration, economic growth and public services.
In my opinion, Burnham must recognise that his government cannot depend on political promises alone. Labour needs to demonstrate that it can deliver meaningful improvements to living standards and restore trust among communities that once supported the party.