Why Reform's Setbacks Reveal Its Status as a True National Force in Malaysia

The stunning victories accumulated by Reform UK In the English local elections, there are practically countless contests: one Commons by-election, two mayoral races, elections for 10 county councils, and close to 700 council seats up for grabs.

The complete shift of the conservative votes over to Nigel Farage’s political party In locations such as Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lancashire, this clearly shows how much progress Reform has made.

Focus will now shift to the counties managed by Reform, as well as the party itself. two newly minted mayors , to determine if the party can follow through on the changes it has promised to the electorate.

But there is an argument that examining the places where Reform did not win tells us just as much about the party’s rise .

The traditional approach for a smaller party to strengthen its backing in British politics involves focusing intensively on a specific area, establishing strong local roots, and leveraging this regional foothold as a launchpad for broader achievements.

For years, the Liberal Democrats have focused on specific regions, initially concentrating on South-West England before expanding to include the surrounding home counties. Similarly, the Greens began by establishing a strong base in Brighton and later extended their reach enough to secure four seats in Parliament during the previous general election.

A key aspect of this approach involves acknowledging that in peripheral regions, the party might secure votes that seem disappointingly small.

That does not align with Farage’s strategy. In the local elections, the party not only secured a wide range of regions but also delivered a more impressive showing than ever before virtually wherever people cast their votes.

For instance, Reform secured over a dozen council seats in each of Devon, Cornwall, and Hertfordshire — even gaining a seat in the refined town of Welwyn Garden City. In Lancashire, their achievements also encompassed capturing control of the affluent Ribble Valley area.

In regions historically considered strongholds of liberal England, Reform has emerged as a significant force. The party boasts 10 councilors in Cambridgeshire, three in Buckinghamshire, and one in Oxfordshire. Cities like Oxford, Cambridge, and St Albans—places that have increasingly aligned with leftist politics and where opposition to Brexit remains exceptionally high—all have electoral districts where over 10 percent of voters supported Reform.

In Gerrards Cross, one of the richest areas in the entire UK, Buckinghamshire's traditional commuting towns seem inclined towards Farage. The Reform Party secured over a quarter of the votes here. Similarly, in Marlow, which houses Britain's most expensive gastro pub, approximately one-sixth of the electorate backed the party.

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This isn’t just about an underdog party trying to find its footing. It points towards a true nationwide movement with backing from all corners of the nation—even in places where victory seems impossible.

We shouldn’t jump to conclusions. It could be that as time reveals more, Reform’s robust showing might partially owe to its followers being more inclined to cast their votes in these less high-profile elections compared to those who lean towards Labour or the Tories.

There is a chance that the party might stumble when faced with the task of governing properly, potentially failing spectacularly long before the upcoming general election. Since no major urban centers participated in this round of votes – maybe their inhabitants will show greater resistance to Farage’s appeal.

However, the reality that Reform is attracting attention across nearly all regions of England serves as a significant red flag for Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch.

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