Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has claimed that success in next year’s local elections could propel his party to victory at the following general election, describing the contests as a pivotal moment for British politics.
Delivering his New Year message in London, Farage said the 2026 local elections in May would be “the single most important set of elections between now and the next general election.”
He predicted that if Reform UK were to come out on top, it would place the party “way ahead of the other parties” and on course to win national power.
Farage pointed to what he described as Reform UK’s strong polling position, claiming the party had led opinion polls for months, and highlighted its breakthrough at the 2025 local elections, when it won hundreds of council seats.
He also criticised Keir Starmer’s Labour government over moves allowing some councils to cancel scheduled elections, calling it a worrying erosion of democratic rights.
In his speech, Farage painted a bleak picture of the country’s economic and social outlook, citing inflation, debt, and public safety concerns, while arguing that Britain should take greater pride in its history.
