Reform UK won six by-elections and gained five seats overnight in a stomping victory, extending the party’s councillor headcount to 891.
As well as holding one seat in the Isle of Wight, Reform claimed one seat from Labour and another from the Tories, before winning a landslide victory in the Harrietsham and Lenham by-election in Maidstone, Kent.
Reacting to the wins, Mr Farage said: “Reform won six out of seven councillors in local by-elections last night. A great effort from our activists.”
Reform MP Lee Anderson added: “Smashing it on Labour seats, Reform UK is on the march.”
Seven seats were on offer yesterday evening, with three independent seats up for grabs, one Labour, one Tory and one Reform.
Lisa Nandy, the MP for Wigan, will not have welcomed the Reform gain in her own backyard, as Lee Moffitt swept to victory.
The Conservatives saw their seat turn turquoise as political commentator and TV host, Russell Quirk, stormed to victory.
One of the biggest wins of the night will be the hat-trick of seats secured from independent candidates in Harrietsham and Lenham, which Deputy Reform Leader Richard Tice described as “huge”.
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Nigel Farage’s party now boast nearly 900 council seats
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Hutton South – Brentwood
Property expert turned political commentator Russell Quirk celebrated his victory yesterday evening, turning the only Tory seat light blue.
Reacting to the victory, Mr Quirk said: “The council seat we have won in Hutton, Brentwood tonight from the Conservatives was one of their safest in the country. Kemi Badenoch and Alex Burghart will be wide awake tonight, mulling their futures.
“We turned their 45 per cent vote share just a year ago into our 45 per cent vote share now, with the Conservatives seeing a 35 per cent reduction in support.”
Mr Quirk continued saying that Essex is “leading the political revolution and this is just the beginning”.
Hutton South – Brentwood results:
- Russell Quirk – Reform UK – 805 votes
- Thomas Bridge – Conservatives – 544 votes
- Jonathan Saunders – Labour Party – 234 votes
- Brenner Munden – Liberal Democrats – 109 votes
- David Hale – Green Party – 66 votes
The six council by-election winners for Reform UK
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Lake North – Isle of Wight
Reform held their seat in Lake North, on the Isle of Wight, as Bill Nigh became their new councillor.
Following the resignation of Reform councillor David Maclean, Mr Nigh stepped up and held the seat with a 41-vote majority.
It was third time lucky for Mr Nigh, who had previously stood for election in Freshwater South, then the Wroxall, Lowtherville and Bonchurch ward.
Lake North – Isle of Wight results:
- Bill Nigh – Reform UK – 290 votes
- Adrian Whittaker – Conservatives – 249 votes
- Bob Blezzard – Liberal Democrats – 118 votes
- Robert May – Green Party – 88 votes
- Christopher Lloyd – Labour Party – 44 votes
Wigan Central – Wigan
In senior Labour MP Lisa Nandy’s own backyard, Reform crushed to victory, claiming their first ever seat on Wigan council.
Former Royal Military Policeman Lee Moffitt won by 421 votes, fending off his closest competitor, Labour’s Adam Boon.
Mr Moffitt said the town’s “hopes and thoughts should be with all the people affected by the terror attack in Manchester earlier in the day”.
Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice described the win as an “amazing gain from Labour in Lisa Nandy’s town”.
Wigan Central – Wigan results:
- Lee Moffit – Reform UK – 1,391 votes
- Adam Boon – Labour Party – 970 votes
- Gareth Fairhurt – Wigan Independents – 196 votes
- Paul Martin – Conservatives – 151 votes
- Simeon Rowlands – Green Party – 130 votes
- John Burley – Liberal Democrats – 109 votes
Reform claimed victory in Lisa Nandy’s own backyard
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PAHarrietsham Lenham and North Downs – Maidstone
Mr Farage’s party claimed all three seats on offer in the Harrietsham Lenham and North Downs by-election, following the resignations of a trio of independent councillors.
The hat-trick saw Chris Houlihan, Mariela Nedelcheva, and Steve Povey become the first Reform UK councillors ever elected to Maidstone council.
Voters had the choice of 15 candidates yesterday evening, but notably, there were no Labour candidates.
Sir Keir’s party felt the seats were better suited by independent candidates; however, the 3607 Reform voters deemed otherwise.
Harrietsham Lenham and North Downs – Maidstone results:
- Chris Houlihan – Reform UK – 1,228 votes
- Steve Povey – Reform UK – 1,226 votes
- Mariela Nedelcheva – Reform UK – 1,153 votes
- Callum Sweetman – Green Party – 459 votes
- James Snyder – Green Party – 452 votes
- Reshmi Kalam – Green Party – 430 votes
- Isobelle Horne – Conservatives – 342 votes
- Darcy Rotherham – Conservatives – 285 votes
- Jennifer Horwood – Liberal Democrats – 236 votes
- Onyekachukwu Chukwuma – Conservatives – 234 votes
- Sam Burrows – Liberal Democrats – 156 votes
- Andrew Cockersole – Liberal Democrats – 123 votes
- Sean Turner – Heritage – 97 votes
- Gary Butler – Independent – 74 votes
- Sam Lawrence-Rose – Independent – 69 votes
Strawberry Ward – Cheshire West and Chester
The only seat Reform did not storm to victory in was the Strawberry Ward seat on Cheshire West and Chester council.
Winning by only 63 votes, Labour pipped Reform to the post, holding the seat in the north west.
Labour’s Kris Fisher retained the seat, saying: “I’m absolutely delighted. What’s clear is that Reform has not managed to sway people towards their politics, and that community politics has won out.
“I’m local and I’ll concentrate on doing the best for our community.”
Strawberry Ward – Cheshire West and Chester results:
- Kris Fisher – Labour Party – 602 votes
- Jason Moorcroft – Reform UK – 539 votes
- Ray McHale – Independent – 231 votes
- Nicholas Hebson – Conservatives – 132 votes
- Lizze Jewkes – Liberal Democrats – 121 votes
- Paul Bowers – Green Party – 58 votes