Forget tradition and subtlety—Dame Andrea Jenkyns made a dazzling entrance into the political spotlight wearing a sparkly, ABBA-inspired jumpsuit in Reform UK’s trademark blue.
But the real shimmer came from the polls, as she claimed a stunning landslide victory to become Greater Lincolnshire’s new Mayor.
Her party, Reform UK, isn’t just celebrating her win—they’re eyeing full control of the Lincolnshire council after the Conservative vote imploded.
From Outsider to Mayor: Jenkyns Wins Big Over Tories
Dame Andrea trounced her old party, the Conservatives, by a whopping 40,000-vote margin.
Reform UK’s campaign, built on tough talk about immigration and promises to eliminate local government waste (including a quirky plan to introduce a US-style “DOGE” department), clearly struck a chord with voters.
Her message was blunt: “The fightback to save the heart and soul of our great country has now begun.”
Runcorn & Helsby Delivers a Historic Nail-Biter for Reform
Over in Cheshire, Reform UK’s Sarah Pochin pulled off a jaw-dropping upset, snatching the Runcorn & Helsby parliamentary seat from Labour—by just six votes.
It’s now officially the narrowest by-election win in modern British history.
And it was no fluke: the seat was a solid Labour stronghold less than a year ago.
Cheered on by party leader Nigel Farage, Pochin declared, “Enough Tory failure, enough Labour lies.”
A Party on the Rise: Reform Makes Deep Gains Across England
Reform didn’t just win— they stormed through England, threatening both main parties.
In North Tyneside, they slashed Labour’s previous 14,000-vote lead down to just 444.
In Doncaster, they came within 698 votes of victory.
And even where they didn’t win, they consistently pushed the Conservatives down to third place.
In many areas, Reform and other right-leaning parties collectively scooped up over half the vote.
Nigel Farage Declares Reform the New Main Opposition
Nigel Farage wasn’t shy about what he sees as the new political reality.
Speaking after the Runcorn win, he claimed, “We are now the opposition party in the UK to Labour, and the Tories are a waste of space.”
His confidence wasn’t baseless—Reform’s strong showing in traditionally Conservative areas has sparked panic in Tory circles.
Could Reform and the Tories Join Forces?
There’s already talk of coalitions forming in places like Northumberland, where the Tories and Reform UK won 26 and 23 seats respectively.
That possibility signals a dramatic reshuffling of local power structures in councils that were once comfortably blue.
What the Experts Are Saying: Reform Is “Now in Business”
Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice told the BBC that Reform’s performance proves they’re not just a passing trend.
“Reform are in business,” he said, noting their ability to eat into both Labour and Tory support.
Their broader appeal and well-distributed votes are turning into real political power, especially at the local level.
A Crisis for Labour and Conservatives Alike
Sir Keir Starmer is feeling the heat too.
Farage criticized the Labour leader for not campaigning in Runcorn, calling him a “coward.” Labour insiders are reportedly worried about losing strongholds like Durham to Reform.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives—already on the back foot—are facing a full-blown collapse in many areas.
A Tumultuous Road Ahead
Reform’s rapid rise has turned them from fringe players to serious contenders.
Farage, always dramatic, called the Runcorn result “one of the most significant by-elections since the war.”
With more council seats expected to fall to Reform and talk of broader ambitions, this may just be the beginning of a new political era.
What’s Next for UK Politics?
As results continue to pour in, all eyes will be on how both Labour and the Conservatives respond.
Will Reform become a permanent fixture in the UK political landscape—or even eye a shot at national power?