Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has secured a significant local election victory over the Conservative Party.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has won a local by-election (special election) in Reform Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick’s constituency (electoral district). 📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, it was announced that Reform candidate Matthew Evans had won the East Markham ward (city council district) by-election. The ward is located in Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire, in England’s East Midlands region. The constituency is represented by Reform’s Robert Jenrick in the House of Commons. Reform secured 49.6 percent of the vote, while support for Olukemi “Kemi” Badenoch’s nominally Conservative Party plummeted by 37.6 percent to 28.4 percent. The governing Labour Party came in third with 17.2 percent, a decline of 4.1 percent, while the far-left Green Party only won 4.8 percent. This was Reform’s first time contesting the seat. “An incredible 44% swing from Tory to Reform in Newark! So proud of our candidate, Matthew Evans and my hardworking team. Deeply honoured that my Newark constituents are backing Reform,” posted Jenrick on X (formerly Twitter). 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Excellent win in [Robert Jenrick’s] seat last night. While the Tories plummeted to 28.4%, Reform gained almost 50% on our first time standing there. The Conservative Party is dead.” — Nigel Farage 🎯 IMPACT: This constitutes another blow to the Conservative Party’s electoral prospects and another gain for Reform. Evans will serve as a councillor on Bassetlaw District Council. The result is likely to be viewed as an endorsement of Jenrick, who was originally elected as a member of the Conservative Party but defected to Reform earlier this year. 📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this year, Reform stormed to victory over the governing Labour Party in the country’s local elections, resulting in the resignation of former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the installation of current Prime Minister Andy Burnham. |
Excellent win in @RobertJenrick's seat last night.
While the Tories plummeted to 28.4%, Reform gained almost 50% on our first time standing there.
The Conservative Party is dead.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) September 16, 2026
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