Farage: a strong contender for the next British PM.
| Published May 3, 2024
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has achieved significant victories in the 2025 local elections, signaling a potential shift in the UK’s political landscape.
Key Victories and Political Impact
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Parliamentary Breakthrough: Reform UK won the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary seat by a narrow margin of six votes, marking its fifth seat in the House of Commons. This victory is notable as the constituency was previously a Labour stronghold .
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Mayoral and Council Gains: The party secured the mayoralty of Greater Lincolnshire and took control of Staffordshire and Durham county councils. Former Conservative minister Andrea Jenkyns now serves as the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, representing Reform UK .
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Council Seats: Reform UK made substantial gains in council elections, with projections suggesting they secured over 30% of the vote, surpassing Labour’s 20% .
In the next 24 hours, we will know if Nigel Farage’s Reform is a phenomenon in the polls and nothing more, or a party ready to break through as a major force.
We will learn a lot about whether Farage is a potential prime minister in waiting.”
The vote came, and it’s now an undeniable feature of British politics that Nigel Farage is set to become a major contender for next Prime Minister, after Reform UK’s massive gains across England, with stunning victories that redraw the political map.
It is projected that Reform got over 30% of the votes, way ahead of the incumbent Labour with 20%.
The populists won the Runcorn and Helsby and the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral runs, seized majorities in Staffordshire and Durham – in a campaign where they inflicted sharp pain on both Labour and the Tories.
As a result, the MSM has to report on their ‘big gains’, as the party ‘tallies victories’ in its ‘election rout’ led by the ‘Trump with a pint’ who ‘humiliated Tories and angered Labour’.
“[Reform] won 677 of around 1,600 seats contested on Thursday across a clutch of mainly Tory-held councils last contested in 2021.
Reform seized control of eight authorities from the Conservatives, including former strongholds Kent and Staffordshire.”
“The party has also won control of Doncaster, the only council Labour was defending, and Durham, where Labour was previously the largest party.
Reform also displaced Labour in Runcorn and Helsby, where it won a tightly-fought Westminster by-election to make Sarah Pochin its fifth MP.”
Strategic Positioning and Future Outlook
Originally formed as the Brexit Party in 2018, Reform UK has expanded its platform to address broader issues such as healthcare and economic stagnation. The party has attracted support from disillusioned Conservative voters and has received financial backing from former Conservative donors .
Nigel Farage’s leadership has been pivotal in the party’s transformation, with efforts to professionalize its image and distance it from far-right affiliations. Analysts suggest that Reform UK is positioning itself as a significant right-wing alternative to the established Labour and Conservative parties, potentially reshaping the UK’s political dynamics ahead of the next general election, expected in 2029 .
The rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the 2025 local elections has several major political implications for the UK:
🔹 1. Collapse of Traditional Party Loyalty
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Reform UK’s gains — especially in previously Labour-held seats — signal widespread voter dissatisfaction with both Labour and the Conservative Party.
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This erodes the traditional two-party dominance and may lead to a fractured political landscape moving forward.
🔹 2. Conservative Party Weakening
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Many of Reform UK’s voters appear to be disillusioned former Conservative supporters.
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This threatens the Conservatives’ base, forcing them to either shift rightward to reclaim voters or risk long-term decline.
🔹 3. Labour Under Pressure
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Though Labour is leading nationally, losing working-class areas and council seats to Reform UK highlights deep cracks in its appeal outside metropolitan strongholds.
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PM Keir Starmer faces increasing pressure to re-connect with disaffected working-class voters.
🔹 4. Populism on the Rise
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Reform UK’s success echoes populist trends seen across Europe — focusing on immigration, national identity, and skepticism of establishment politics.
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Nigel Farage’s influence could reshape national debates on these issues.
🔹 5. General Election Disruption
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If Reform UK continues its rise, it could become a kingmaker or even the main opposition party by 2029.
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This would dramatically shift UK policy debates and coalition-building in Parliament.
Overall Takeaway:
The 2025 UK local elections mark a political turning point, with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK emerging as a serious challenger to both Labour and the Conservatives. Fueled by populist momentum and voter dissatisfaction with the status quo, Reform UK’s success signals a crumbling of traditional party dominance and the rise of a new force that could reshape British politics heading into the next general election.
SOURCES: THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – Stellar Performance by Reform UK in Local Elections Confirms Nigel Farage as a Very Strong Contender for the Role of Next British Prime Minister
BANGKOK POST – Hard right wins local UK election in blow to PM Starmer
REUTERS – Farage’s Reform UK Party wins mayoral and parliamentary post in surge of support
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