Reform UK's Local Polls Win a Major Threat to Britain's Two Main Parties

Farage unleashes political tsunami that could sweep away country's staid, stable system

- Jonathan Eyal

LONDON - Mr Nigel Farage is hardly a novelty in British politics. The 61-year-old hard-right activist has taken part in Britain's elections since the 1990s and was one of the key movers behind a 2016 referendum that resulted in the country's departure from the European Union.

But Mr Farage has now morphed from a fringe actor into an existential threat to the political establishment after his Reform UK party topped the polls in Britain's local elections on May 1.

With the general election due in four years, Labour and the Conservatives – which have dominated British politics for over a century – still have plenty of time to fight back.

Still, there is no question that Mr Farage unleashed a political tsunami that could sweep away the famously staid and stable British political system.

Britain could join other key European countries like France, Germany or Italy, where hard-right, populist and anti-immigrant parties are upending old, entrenched political elites.

With all the votes in the May 1 local polls now counted, Mr Farage's Reform won 30 per cent of the ballots, up from just 2 per cent obtained in partial local elections held in 2024.

Out of the 24 English county councils that were up for election on May 1, Reform gained overall control of 10 and is the largest party in a further four, where no party won outright.

Overall, Reform captured 677 seats on local councils throughout England, 47 per cent of all the local councillor seats available for re-election.

Most of Reform's gains came at the expense of the centre-right Conservatives, who were historically dominant in the rural areas.

“The Conservative Party is done,” boasted Mr Farage soon after the poll results were known.