Reform UK Upends British Politics as Major Parties Reel
Nigel Farage has declared Reform UK's electoral gains "unprecedented" and proclaimed "the end of two-party politics" following Thursday's elections. The party secured control of 10 local councils, won two mayoral races, and added a fifth MP through the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. These victories came largely at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives, with both major parties now assessing the impact. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged that citizens aren't yet experiencing the benefits of Labour governance, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch committed to rebuilding her party as a "credible" alternative. Farage boldly claimed, "In post-war Britain, no one has ever beaten both Labour and the Tories in a local election before." In his Times article, Sir Keir argued the election results don't call for "ideological zealotry" but rather indicate "now is the time to crank up the pace […]