Following their success in recent local elections, Reform UK councillors are struggling to form coalitions in hung councils across England. Despite speculation of Reform-Conservative pacts, the party has not entered any formal agreements, with other parties often refusing to work with them due to differing core values and Reform UK's focus on national issues like immigration rather than local policies. This has left Reform UK either governing as a minority or excluded from power.
Reform UK struggles to find friends to share council power
Reform UKEngland local elections 2025
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Following their success in recent local elections, Reform UK councillors are struggling to form coalitions in hung councils across England. Despite speculation of Reform-Conservative pacts, the party has not entered any formal agreements, with other parties often refusing to work with them due to differing core values and Reform UK's focus on national issues like immigration rather than local policies. This has left Reform UK either governing as a minority or excluded from power.
Trending- 1 Ahead of local elections: Speculation about Reform-Conservative coalitions.
- 2 Recent local elections: Reform UK gained 677 new councillors and two mayors, leading to hung councils.
- 3 Weeks after local elections: Reform UK councillors getting to grips with their new jobs; Mark Peart voted in as group leader in Northumberland.
- 4 Recently: Zia Yusuf resigned as party chairman.
- 5 Ongoing: Reform UK struggles to form coalitions; other parties refuse to work with them.
- Reform UK is governing as minority administrations in some areas (Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Leicestershire).
- Reform UK is excluded from power in other areas despite winning the most seats (e.g., Cornwall).
- New Reform UK councillors are navigating complex political landscapes with limited experience.
- Zia Yusuf resigned as party chairman, leaving a gap in leadership.
- The party is developing a support network and training for new councillors.
What: Reform UK's inability to form formal coalitions or pacts in hung councils across England following their success in recent local elections.
When: Recent local elections (unspecified date, but implied current year), weeks after local elections (councillors getting grips with jobs).
Where: England, specifically Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Cornwall, Northumberland.
Why: Other established parties (Liberal Democrats, Labour, Conservatives) refuse to work with Reform UK due to perceived incompatible core values and Reform UK's focus on national issues (e.g., immigration, stopping small boats) rather than local policies. Reform UK itself has also been uncompromising on coalitions.
How: Reform UK won seats in recent local elections, leading to hung councils. They have attempted to govern alone as minority administrations or have been excluded from power by other parties forming alternative coalitions (e.g., Lib Dems and independents in Cornwall). Party leaders (Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage) made comments on potential deals.