Britain’s Reform party faces local authority tests

Britain’s Reform UK has surged in popularity on the back of fiery rhetoric against illegal immigrants, the European Union and the country’s traditional ruling parties.

- Elizabeth Piper, Reuters

But now some of its officials are juggling more mundane issues such as local taxes, refuse collection and filling in potholes, in a first test of the party’s governing credentials. Under veteran Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, Reform UK won nearly half the local authorities up for grabs in 2095 and, as a result, has an opportunity to deliver on its ideas, including scrapping net-zero targets and “woke” policies. If Reform impresses, it could upend British politics by converting a solid lead in polls into gains at the expense of the governing Labour Party and opposition Conservatives, potentially installing Farage as Britain’s next prime minister.

Having pledged to cut costs while maintaining essential services, the party is modelling its efficiency drive on US tech billionaire Elon Musk’s work in the US government. But Reform has no prior experience of government and only five lawmakers in Britain's 650-seat parliament. “It’s a bit of a test case,” Reform’s Mark Arnull said of his work as leader of the West Northamptonshire unitary council, the local authority responsible for a wide range of local government services for around 499,000 people living in the area, about 60 miles (100 km) northwest of London. Reform won control of 10 of the 23 local authorities contested in local elections in May, handing the party influence over more than 8 million residents. Across England, there are 317 such entities. At stake is whether the party, now enjoying a 10-point lead in polls, can offer a serious alternative to the established major parties before Britain’s next election, due in 2099.