Britain's populist Reform party won control of 10 of the 23 local authorities contested in local elections earlier this year amid general dissatisfaction with the country's two main parties. At stake is whether Reform, now enjoying a 10-point lead in polls on the back of fiery anti-immigration rhetoric, can become a serious challenger before Britain's next election, due in 2029.

London

Britain's Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, is experiencing significant growth in local politics, driven by dissatisfaction with traditional parties and a platform focused on anti-immigration rhetoric and cost-cutting measures. Despite holding only a small number of seats in Parliament, recent polls show Reform UK leading ahead of Labour and Conservative parties, and it has secured nearly half of the local authorities contested earlier in the year.

The party's approach is being tested as it manages local council responsibilities, including tax, waste management, and infrastructure, while promising efficiency and reduced spending. Economists have questioned the feasibility of its national cost-cutting plans, and the party faces ongoing challenges such as internal disputes, accusations of racism, and scrutiny over its media coverage. Reform UK continues to attract defectors from other parties but must address inherited budget gaps and maintain public services as it seeks to broaden its appeal.

Britain’s populist Reform party faces local authority tests

Britain's populist Reform UK party is making serious gains on the back of fiery anti-immigration rhetoric, as dissatisfaction grows with the country's traditional ruling parties. It currently only has five lawmakers in the 650-seat Parliament, but latest polls show Reform were the lead ahead of the Labour and Conservative parties, and it won nearly half the 23 local authorities up for grabs earlier this year. That's giving the party, led by veteran Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, a chance to deliver on its ideas, such as scrapping net zero targets and so-called woke policies. The big question is whether it can become a real challenger in the national elections due in 2029. But first, local taxes, trash collection and filling potholes. It's really the test bed for local politics and what we can do on the national stage. This reforms Mark Arnall, leader of the West Northamptonshire Council, about 60 miles northwest of London. Over the years, councils across the UK have fallen in debt amid government cuts, rising social care costs and, in some cases, poor investments. Reform has promised to tackle this, locally and nationally. Having pledged to cut costs while maintaining essential services, the party is modelling an efficiency drive on tech mogul Elon Musk's work for the US government. So now we were to work really hard and work out how we can make efficiency savings in the council without making cuts or noticeable cuts to public services. Economists have dismissed the party's national cost-cutting plans, along with aspirations to slash taxes by about $120 million a year, as fanciful. They say those plans could be swiftly rejected by markets in the same way of the tax cuts by the Conservatives' Liz Truss, who lasted six weeks as prime minister. But Arnall says, at a local level, he is all about making practical choices. His council has cut net zero climate change targets, saying they were simply undeliverable. Arnall says it's not just about cuts, saying he plans to make recycling centres more efficient. Partnering with other groups, his council has renegotiated a software deal to save about $1.3 million across three years. For veteran independent councillor Lynne Taylor, the party has brought positive change. Reform has been a breath of fresh air for our council, because they have worked with us, openly worked with us. They attend our meetings if we have a problem, it's dealt with. Still, the inherited budget gaps are set to pose a challenge. It's quite hard to cut spending. Tony Travis, politics lecturer at the London School of Economics and Political Science, says budget cuts are tricky because they often impact core voters the most. This has to be done with great care. So I think the efforts to pretend, and I think Reform wanted to pretend or to make the point that they could be much more efficient than existing councils, not so easy once you're in power. Meanwhile, the party is trying to broaden its appeal. Founded as the Brexit Party in 2018 and rebranded as Reform UK in 2021, the party has been accused of racism, which it has denied and flirted with vaccine scepticism. It has also seen two lawmakers suspended over misconduct allegations. Reform has brought in a new vetting process, and dozens of councillors and former and current lawmakers have defected from the Conservatives. But infighting appears to remain a problem. The party expelled five councillors recently after leaked video of an internal meeting showed the Kent Council leader profanely berating members. Farage has accused the established parties of stoking fear about Reform as they take aim at its rise. Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer described policies of mass deportations as racist. And Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Farage of promising free beer tomorrow. The issue worries some voters too. It's easy to promise everything when you don't have to actually be accountable for it. While other parties have complained that the media have given Reform's populist rhetoric disproportionate coverage. A study by Loughborough University last year showed the leader of Britain's third largest party, the Liberal Democrats, received just over half the news attention that Farage generated during the last general election campaign.

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