Nigel Farage has hailed a “truly astonishing” poll showing Reform UK‘s highest-ever level of support.
The Find Out Now survey put the Right-wing party in the lead with 29% of the vote share.
Sir Keir Starmer‘s Labour Party was second with 25%, while the Tories trailed in third place on 18% – more than 10 points behind Reform.
In a video posted on X, the Reform leader said: “Now you might say it’s just one poll and a poll is a snapshot not a prediction – all true.
“But Find Out Now have been the most accurate pollsters on Reform. They’ve led the way.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage hailed the poll in an online video (Image: X)
“Today’s figures are truly astonishing. They’ve got us topping the polls at 29%, with the Conservatives way down at 18%.
“The message that’s coming from this is very, very clear. Not only do we have momentum but if you want to beat Labour, if you want to get them out at the next general election, don’t waste your vote with the Conservatives.
“Come with the winning team, join Reform UK, be part of the people’s army. We might be your last hope.”
Reform was up two points from the week before in the survey of 2,487 British adults carried out on Wednesday.
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Meanwhile, Labour was also up two, while Kemi Badenoch’s Tories were down three.
Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice described the poll as “huge”, while Ashfield MP Lee Anderson said it was “beautiful”.
Reform MP Rupert Lowe branded the result as “historic”, adding: “I have been saying for some time that we are going to win the next election. Those that were laughing are certainly not now.”
It comes after the insurgent party topped a landmark poll by YouGov earlier this week.
Jubilant Nigel Farage Hails ‘Truly Astonishing’ Result as Reform UK Surges
Nigel Farage has celebrated a major breakthrough for Reform UK after a series of electoral gains reshaped Britain’s political landscape, declaring that the party’s performance in traditional Labour strongholds was “truly astonishing”.
The results of the May 2026 local elections marked a significant moment for Reform, which secured more than 1,400 council seats in England and took control of councils previously dominated by Labour and the Conservatives. The outcome intensified pressure on the established parties and raised fresh questions about the future direction of British politics.
Farage used the results to argue that voters were increasingly prepared to abandon traditional party loyalties. But the scale of Reform’s gains also presents the party with a new challenge: demonstrating that its success at the ballot box can translate into effective local government and a credible national programme.
Farage celebrates a breakthrough in Labour heartlands
The May 2026 elections delivered one of the most significant local electoral performances in Reform UK’s history.
According to the party’s own published figures, Reform won 1,454 council seats, took control of 14 councils and received approximately 3.6 million votes. It had been defending just two council seats before the elections, making its gains particularly substantial. <Cite refs={[“turn947255search0″,”turn947255news16”]}/>
Farage was especially enthusiastic about the party’s performance in areas traditionally associated with Labour.
Speaking in Chelmsford, he described the results in the “Red Wall” as “truly astonishing”, pointing to gains in the Midlands, the North East and the North West. He argued that Reform was winning support from voters in communities where Labour had historically enjoyed strong backing. <Cite refs={[“turn947255search1″,”turn947255search8”]}/>
The Red Wall refers to constituencies across northern England and the Midlands where Labour once maintained substantial electoral support. Although the region is not politically uniform, it has become an important battleground in recent elections as voters have shifted between Labour, the Conservatives and smaller parties.
For Farage, gains in these areas offer an opportunity to challenge the idea that Labour can rely on its traditional supporters to return at every election.
However, local elections and general elections are different contests. Council elections often focus on local services, council performance and the reputation of individual candidates. Their results do not automatically determine how voters will behave when choosing MPs.
Nevertheless, the scale of Reform’s advances has made it harder for Labour and the Conservatives to ignore the party’s growing local presence.
Labour suffers a major setback
Labour experienced substantial losses in the English local elections, losing more than half of the council seats it was defending, according to figures published by Reform and reported in national coverage.
The party also suffered a historic defeat in Wales, where Plaid Cymru emerged as the leading force in the Senedd election, ending more than a century of Labour dominance in Welsh devolved politics. Reform made gains in England, while the Greens also strengthened their position in several areas. <Cite refs={[“turn947255news16″,”turn947255search0”]}/>
The results created pressure on Labour’s leadership and raised questions about whether the government had sufficiently addressed the concerns of voters.
Economic pressures, immigration, public services and dissatisfaction with Westminster have all featured in Britain’s political debate. Different voters may have different reasons for changing their political allegiance, and it would be misleading to attribute every result to a single issue.
Nevertheless, the elections offered evidence that Labour’s large parliamentary majority had not insulated it from public discontent.
For Farage, the opportunity is to persuade voters that the local results represent more than a temporary protest. Reform will want to demonstrate that it can attract support across different regions and sustain that support beyond a single election cycle.
Labour, meanwhile, faces the task of explaining its record, addressing concerns about public services and showing that its policies can deliver visible improvements.
The Conservatives are under pressure too
Reform’s gains have also intensified the challenge facing the Conservative Party.
The Conservatives lost control of several councils to Reform, according to the party’s published account of the election results. The shift reflects competition for voters who favour tighter immigration controls, lower taxation and changes to the way government operates. <Cite refs={[“turn947255search0”]}/>
For the Conservatives, the problem is not simply that Reform has attracted voters who previously supported Labour. Farage’s party is also competing directly for people who once regarded the Conservatives as their natural political home.
That creates a difficult strategic choice. The Conservatives can attempt to distinguish themselves through their record in government and their experience of managing the economy and public services. Alternatively, they can adopt positions closer to Reform on selected issues in an effort to regain support.
Both approaches carry risks.
If the Conservatives move too close to Reform, they may strengthen the argument that Farage is setting the political agenda. If they maintain a different approach, they must persuade voters that their policies offer a convincing alternative.
Reform, for its part, must demonstrate that it is more than a destination for disillusioned Conservative voters. It needs a clear identity, a credible programme and an organisation capable of managing councils and contesting parliamentary seats.
The local election results have intensified this competition without resolving which party will ultimately benefit most.
Why voters are reconsidering traditional loyalties
The rise of Reform is part of a broader transformation in British politics.
Traditional party loyalties have weakened, and voters increasingly appear willing to switch allegiance when they believe their concerns are not being addressed.
Immigration remains one of Reform’s defining issues. Farage has repeatedly called for stronger border controls and a tougher response to irregular migration, including small-boat crossings across the English Channel.
The party has also criticised government spending, taxation and the performance of public institutions. These messages are intended to appeal to voters who believe that successive governments have failed to deliver meaningful improvements.
However, support for Reform should not be interpreted as evidence that all its voters share the same priorities. Some may be primarily concerned about immigration, while others may be motivated by economic insecurity, dissatisfaction with public services or a desire to punish established parties.
Understanding these differences will be important if Reform hopes to maintain its support.
A party can attract votes by criticising the government, but governing requires detailed decisions about budgets, staffing, infrastructure and the delivery of services. Reform’s new council responsibilities will provide an opportunity for voters to assess how it performs in practice.
The challenge of turning electoral gains into effective government
Winning council seats brings new responsibilities as well as political opportunities.
Local authorities make decisions affecting waste collection, planning, housing, social care, local roads and other services. Their budgets are subject to financial constraints, and many of their responsibilities are shaped by national legislation and funding arrangements.
Reform’s councillors and council administrations will therefore have to demonstrate that their campaign promises can be translated into practical decisions.
Supporters will expect them to identify waste, improve efficiency and respond to local concerns. Critics will scrutinise whether the party can manage services effectively and whether its proposed changes produce measurable benefits.
The distinction between national and local government is also important. Council leaders cannot independently implement every national policy proposed by Farage, particularly in areas such as immigration, taxation and international relations.
Nevertheless, successful local administration could help Reform establish a stronger reputation for competence. Poor performance or internal disputes could undermine its claims that it represents a different approach to politics.
The party’s next challenge is therefore to show that its electoral advances can be sustained through the everyday responsibilities of public office.
Polling provides another measure of Reform’s support
Local election results are one indicator of political momentum, but opinion polls offer a different measure of public attitudes.
Polling asks respondents how they would vote in a general election, while local elections record the choices people actually make in particular contests. The two measures can diverge because of turnout, local issues, candidate selection and differences between electoral systems.
A favourable national poll can strengthen a party’s campaign message, but it does not guarantee that the party will win a particular constituency or form a government.
Likewise, local election gains can reveal areas of potential support without establishing how those voters will behave at a general election.
For Reform, both forms of evidence will matter. The party must establish whether its support extends beyond the areas where it has already performed strongly and whether it can compete effectively against Labour and the Conservatives across a wider range of constituencies.
Farage will also need to demonstrate that the party can maintain public attention while answering detailed questions about its policies.
The electoral results have created opportunities, but converting those opportunities into long-term support will require sustained organisation and clear policy choices.
Immigration, the economy and the next political battle
Farage’s national campaign has focused on immigration, economic growth, taxation and the performance of government.
He launched his 100 Days to Save Britain tour in Doncaster on October 1, 2026, presenting it as the beginning of Reform UK’s campaign for the next general election. The party said Farage intended to travel around the country regularly, regardless of when the election was called. <Cite refs={[“turn947255search6″,”turn947255search0”]}/>
The tour reflects Reform’s attempt to move beyond celebrating electoral gains and make the case for a national governing programme.
Immigration is likely to remain a central issue, but the party will also face questions about its economic proposals. Promises to cut taxes or reduce government expenditure require detailed explanations of how public services would be funded and how the proposed changes would affect households and businesses.
Labour and the Conservatives will seek to challenge Reform’s plans, while offering voters their own alternatives.
For Farage, the challenge is to keep the political debate focused on the issues where Reform believes it has an advantage without allowing scrutiny of its own policies to undermine its message.
A significant result, but not the end of the contest
Farage’s description of the Red Wall results as “truly astonishing” captured the scale of his party’s local election gains in May 2026. Reform won more than 1,400 council seats, took control of 14 councils according to its published figures and expanded its presence in areas where Labour and the Conservatives had traditionally been competitive.
Those achievements represent a substantial change in the local political landscape.
But they do not settle the outcome of the next general election. Britain uses a first-past-the-post system for parliamentary elections, and the distribution of votes across individual constituencies will matter as much as the national picture.
Labour must now address the reasons voters have turned away from it, while the Conservatives face continued competition from a party challenging their traditional electoral base. Reform must demonstrate that it can govern effectively and turn its local gains into sustained national support.
The coming period will test all three parties. Voters will judge them on their promises, their performance and their ability to respond to concerns about living standards, immigration and public services.
For Farage, the May results provide a powerful platform from which to campaign. Whether they become the foundation of a lasting political realignment will depend on what Reform does next—and how voters respond when they have another opportunity to decide the country’s direction.