Reform loses more councillors than any rival party

Reform's May triumph

Reform UK won one thousand four hundred fifty-four councillor seats in May's local elections and took control of fourteen councils, opening a seven-point poll lead over Labour.

Farage's Grand National dream

Nigel Farage said the local election was Reform's Becher's Brook and predicted voters would stick with the party all the way through to a general election victory.

“if we cleared Becher's Brook and landed well, we go on to win the Grand National”

The collapse begins

Six months later, Labour's popularity has risen under new prime minister Andy Burnham and Tory support has surged, while Reform's poll lead has vanished entirely.

Councillors flee the party

September and October saw a flurry of Reform councillor resignations, suspensions and defections, many following an ITV Exposure documentary revealing racist and sexually explicit comments.

The numbers tell the story

According to Open Council Data UK, Reform has lost forty-one councillors since one June, down one point eight percent from two thousand three hundred forty-two to two thousand three hundred one.

Worse than the competition

Reform lost more councillors than any other major party. Labour lost thirty-five from a much larger base, the Lib Dems lost five, and the Tories gained thirteen seats.

Durham's safeguarding crisis

In Durham, three councillors left Reform to become independent after the party allegedly failed to respond to a serious safeguarding issue raised in July by councillor Lyndsey Fox.

“I am left with no confidence that safeguarding is being treated as a priority within Reform”

Worcestershire's financial chaos

In Worcestershire, Reform's minority administration faced huge challenges with council finances, putting up council tax by almost nine percent to avoid financial collapse, prompting one councillor to quit.

Perks defects over St George crosses

Councillor Karl Perks defected from Reform to the Conservatives in July, citing the council's failure to prosecute those painting roundabouts with the cross of St George.

“Too often, I saw division encouraged where unity was needed, and fear and anger amplified where compassion and restraint were called for”

Racist comments exposed

Alan Feeney resigned as Reform councillor on Solihull and Birmingham councils after an undercover ITV sting revealed him making racist comments about Asian homeowners. He later apologised.

Toxic culture from the top

Councillor Leon Graham defected from Reform to the Conservatives in Lancashire, saying the party had a toxic culture that disliked internal and external scrutiny and focused on performative politics.

“The culture is toxic which comes from the very top”

Reform's defence falls flat

Reform told The Independent its analysis showed it had lost fewer councillors than Labour and the Tories since May, but recent defections and resignations threaten the party's majority on some councils.