Nigel Farage hails ‘historic shift in politics’ after Reform UK election gains

Party has success in Labour and Tory heartland areas but one pollster says results suggest Reform may have peaked

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Nigel Farage hailed sweeping election wins for Reform UK as a “historic shift in British politics” on a day when the populist party made gains at the expense of Labour and the Conservatives.

Reform made advances in heartland areas of both parties, clocking up substantial early results in the English local elections by taking control of Essex county council, Havering – its first London local authority – and Sunderland city council.