Nigel Farage rallies as Reform UK eyes sweeping election gains
Updated
Updated · NBC News · May 6
Nigel Farage rallies as Reform UK eyes sweeping election gains
10 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 6
At a 700-strong rally in Merthyr Tydfil, Farage targeted Labour before Thursday’s votes across England, Wales and Scotland, with one Welsh projection putting Reform on 27%, behind Plaid Cymru on 30%.
The elections are a major test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s unpopular Labour government and for Reform’s anti-immigration, anti-green, tax-cutting platform in economically deprived former Labour heartlands.
Analysts say Wales is splitting into anti-Labour blocs backing either Plaid or Reform; although other parties reject coalition deals with Reform, a strong result would still mark a seismic breakthrough.
Reform UK promises tax cuts but has raised them in councils. Can voters trust their economic pledges for Wales?
With Labour collapsing and no party set for a majority, who will actually govern Wales after tomorrow's election?
Can Nigel Farage's populist revolution truly heal the deep economic despair scarring Wales's former industrial heartlands?
Reform UK's 23% Poll Lead Signals Major Upheaval in UK Politics Ahead of 2026 Local Elections
Overview
Reform UK leads the May 2026 local elections with 23% support, surpassing both Conservatives and Labour, driven by strong nationalist messaging and hard-line immigration policies. Their controversial stance, including deporting illegal migrants and placing detention centers in non-Reform areas, fuels public anxiety and backlash, prompting tactical voting from left-wing parties to block their rise. Labour faces historic losses amid internal tensions and a failed tough immigration approach, while the Green Party surges as a progressive alternative. This political fragmentation, with multiple parties polling strongly, threatens stable majorities and intensifies tensions within the UK, as Reform's English nationalism clashes with Scottish and Welsh aspirations, challenging social cohesion and future governance.