Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has made significant strides in England’s local elections, securing a dramatic by-election victory by just six votes—the narrowest margin in UK parliamentary

history.

In a major upset, Reform’s candidate Sarah Pochin edged out Labour in the Runcorn & Helsby seat, which had previously been considered a Labour stronghold. Just months earlier, Labour had won the constituency by nearly 15,000 votes in the 2024 general election.

The win marks the first major electoral test since that general election and signals a potential shift in British politics. Reform UK, a right-wing populist party founded by Farage, is aiming to disrupt the long-standing dominance of Labour and the Conservatives.

Farage celebrated the win early Friday morning, calling it a turning point in breaking the traditional two-party grip on UK politics.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of a Labour MP convicted of assaulting a constituent. The tight race required a full recount before Reform was declared the winner.

In addition to the parliamentary seat, Reform UK scored another breakthrough with Andrea Jenkyns—formerly a Conservative MP—winning the first-ever mayoral post for Greater Lincolnshire, an area of around one million residents. It’s the highest-profile office the party has won to date.

Reform also mounted strong challenges in other key areas, nearly unseating Labour in North Tyneside, Doncaster, and the West of England.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government, which won a landslide victory just last year, is now facing a rapid drop in popularity amid tax hikes, cuts to elderly benefits, and a donations scandal. This backlash has provided fertile ground for Farage and his anti-establishment message.

More results from Thursday’s local elections—where over 1,600 council seats and six mayoralties were contested—are expected throughout the day. Photo by Owain.davies, Wikimedia commons.