Reform UK Gains Seats Across England, Wales and Scotland

Voters in areas from Swansea to Sunderland have supported Reform UK in recent elections, resulting in reduced representation for Labour and the Conservatives. At a social club in Caerphilly, Wales, on Friday night, two voters identified as Bernard and Linda told BBC Radio 4's Today programme they were taking a chance on the party. "With Labour I think you get nowhere," one said.

"They're not the working class now," the other added. In Wales, where one party had held dominance for a century, that party now holds nine of 96 Senedd seats. Reform UK, which previously had virtually no presence there, secured 34 seats.

In Scotland, Reform UK gained 17 MSPs. In north-east England, local election results exceeded Reform UK's expectations and presented difficulties for Labour. Both parties reported that national issues were central to voter decisions during doorstep campaigning.

Voters expressed dislike for the government and the prime minister. Reform UK's approach of presenting the elections as a referendum on the prime minister limited the effect of local messages from the governing party. Concerns about small boat crossings also influenced some voters.

Local factors played a role in addition to national sentiment. Incumbency presented challenges for councils. In the North East, residents have seen 15 years of reduced local services alongside council tax increases, among the highest rates in the country.

With the exception of one area, Labour councils in the region raised bills by nearly 5 percent this year. Voters in Sunderland noted some regeneration in the past two years but said it did not offset the effects of the previous 50 years. In Gateshead, the overnight closure of an unsafe motorway flyover in December 2024 and the start of its demolition during the election campaign contributed to a sense of neglect.