Nigel Farage has expressed being 'thrilled and delighted' after Reform UK secured its first London borough victory in Havering, East London. The result has dealt a significant blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party, with the 'tough' outcomes causing 'hurt' within the party.
Reform UK's Historic Win
Speaking after the win, Farage emphasized that this success should no longer be viewed as a protest vote. 'It cannot continue to be a fluke or a protest vote,' he said. 'I can honestly say you are witnessing an historic shift in British politics. This (Reform UK) is now the most national of all parties.'
He added that both Labour and the Conservatives are being 'wiped out' in their traditional heartlands, and Reform would bring a mix of new ideas and experience. Farage also acknowledged the financial strain on local councils, promising 'good value for money' rather than miracles.
Labour's Reaction
Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the tough results during a speech at Kingsdown Methodist Church in Ealing, west London. 'The results are tough, they are very tough, and there's no sugarcoating it,' he said. 'We have lost brilliant Labour representatives across the country, these are people who put so much into their communities, so much into our party. And that hurts, and it should hurt, and I take responsibility.'
Despite the setback, Starmer affirmed his resolve: 'Days like this don't weaken my resolve to deliver the change that I promised.'
Ongoing Vote Counting
Labour faces further heavy losses as vote counting continues in English local elections, as well as contests for the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd. The full impact of Reform UK's surge remains to be seen as results are tallied.
