Zia Yusuf says Reform UK will not take voters for granted
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 9
Zia Yusuf says Reform UK will not take voters for granted
12 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 9
After gains of more than 1,400 councillors, Yusuf said the party welcomed scrutiny following advances across England, Scotland and Wales.
Reform took councils including Essex, Barnsley, Wakefield, Sunderland and Gateshead, came second in Wales with 34 seats and tied Labour on 17 seats in Scotland.
Yusuf said the results moved Nigel Farage closer to power, while BBC projections put Reform on 26% nationally, ahead of Greens, Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats.
After a year of tax hikes and broken promises, what does Reform UK’s local record reveal about its national ambitions?
Is Reform UK’s populist movement built on voter anger or the wealth of a few secretive mega-donors?
Reform UK's "Vote Green, Get Illegals" Policy: Legal, Ethical, and Political Fallout of a Punitive Immigration Strategy in 2026
Overview
Just days before key local elections, Reform UK launched its controversial 'Vote Green, Get Illegals' policy, proposing new immigration detention centers and directly targeting the Green Party's so-called 'extremist policies.' This strategic move, made while Reform UK was leading in the polls, immediately sparked widespread condemnation from political leaders and legal experts. Critics argued the policy was divisive, legally questionable, and threatened democratic norms by linking government action to voting choices. The backlash highlighted deep concerns about the use of state power for political gain and set the stage for intense debate over the future of UK politics.