**Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Secures Notable Victories in English Elections**
The Reform UK party, under the leadership of Nigel Farage, has recorded significant electoral wins in the latest round of English elections, signalling a dramatic shift in the UK’s political landscape. In what many consider one of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s earliest and most challenging electoral tests, Reform UK clinched the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by the narrowest of margins—securing victory over Labour by just six votes.
The triumph in Runcorn and Helsby is particularly striking given that less than a year ago, Labour had held the seat with a comfortable majority of almost 14,700 votes. This dramatic turnaround underscores a substantial swing of 20.6% towards Reform UK, with support seemingly drawn from both previous Labour and Conservative voters. The win establishes Sarah Pochin as the newly elected MP, bringing Reform UK’s representation in Westminster to five MPs.
Beyond Runcorn and Helsby, the night proved fruitful for Reform UK in local government too. In Greater Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea Jenkyns became the first to capture the newly established mayoral seat for Reform, marking a watershed moment for the party on a local level. Meanwhile, Reform UK came in strong in the Northumberland County Council elections, finishing as the runner-up behind the Conservatives, and underlining its growing influence across traditional party lines.
While the majority of elections took place in England, Wales saw no scheduled regular elections. However, there was a single by-election in Bridgend County Borough Council for the Pyle, Kenfig Hill, and Cefn Cribbwr seat. Here, Reform UK proved its expanding reach with Owain Clatworthy winning for the party.
This string of victories is widely being interpreted as evidence of shifting public attitudes and raises questions for the traditional heavyweights—Labour and the Conservatives. The by-election in Runcorn and Helsby was precipitated by the resignation of Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who stepped down after admitting to punching a constituent, an incident that likely contributed to voter unrest and paved the way for Reform’s upset.
Reacting to the results, Nigel Farage addressed broadcasters and was quick to position Reform UK as the “main opposition” to Labour, who currently hold government. “What it sends is a message not just from here but across the country that we are now the opposition to the Labour party, who are in government, and actually in most parts of the country now, if you vote Conservative, you get Labour,” Farage stated. This claim highlights Reform UK’s strategy of pitching itself as the authentic voice of opposition for voters dissatisfied with the established parties.
As votes continued to be tallied through the night, the atmosphere was tinged with anticipation, especially in Runcorn where a closely contested recount delayed the final result and Farage’s eventual arrival for celebrations. For Labour, there is some soul searching ahead, with party spokespeople acknowledging the inherent difficulties of by-elections for governments but insisting there is hope in their ongoing reforms. They pointed to improvements such as falling NHS waiting lists, easing inflation, and rising wages as encouraging developments, while promising to press forward with their agenda.
In Northumberland, the council remains under no overall control, with the Conservatives still the biggest party and Reform UK nipping at their heels in second place. This result further emphasises the fragmented nature of political support across England and signals the need for established parties to pay close attention to voter sentiment.
Political analysts are watching closely, noting that these results could be a harbinger of further upsets in the run-up to future national elections. For Reform UK and their supporters, the message is clear: the momentum appears to be turning in their favour, and their self-styled “new dawn in British politics” may be on the horizon.
Observers agree that while one set of local and by-election victories does not create a new political order overnight, it does signal a significant challenge to the established parties. All eyes will be on Reform UK as it seeks to maintain and build upon this momentum in the coming months.