Reform UK Gains Control of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Reform UK has achieved a historic victory by gaining control of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. The party secured 27 seats, while the Conservatives retained 15 seats and Labour won two.
Martin Rogerson, newly elected councillor for Talke and Butt Lane, stated:
"We've come out on top but we've got a job to do - we'll do the best for the people who elected us."
Nigel Farage's party also won all nine seats contested in Tamworth's local election.
Despite this, Labour remained the largest party in Tamworth, having lost the only seat it was defending.
Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice expressed his satisfaction with the results, saying he was "absolutely delighted" and noted that voters had turned out to "repaint the red wall, the turquoise wall".
Counting in Cannock Chase was scheduled to begin later.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Election Details
In Newcastle-under-Lyme, Reform UK required 23 seats to obtain a majority and ultimately won 27 seats. The Conservatives secured 15 seats, and Labour managed only two.
Prior to the election, the Conservatives held 26 seats, Labour had 17, and Reform UK held one seat.
The average voter turnout was 47.8%, an increase from 43% in 2022.
Among those elected was Jonathan Gullis, former Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, who is now a Reform councillor representing Kidsgrove and Ravenscliffe. Another former Conservative MP, Jeremy Lefroy, was elected as a Conservative councillor for Maer and Whitmore.
Both Conservative group leader Simon Tagg and Labour group leader Dave Jones retained their seats in Westlands and Keele respectively. Jones described the election results as "humbling" for his party.
The borough had been considered part of the "red wall" and was represented by a Labour Member of Parliament for a century until Tory Aaron Bell was elected in 2019. Adam Jogee subsequently won back the parliamentary seat for Labour in 2024.
However, the Conservatives have controlled the borough council since 2018 and strengthened their majority in 2022, the last time the entire borough was up for election.
Reform UK’s Success and Electoral Law Breach in Tamworth
Despite Reform UK's comprehensive victory in Tamworth, their success was overshadowed by a breach of electoral law when the poll outcome was shared on social media before the official declaration.
Returning officer Stephen Gabriel confirmed that the authority was aware of the results being posted in a Facebook group prior to official confirmation or announcement.
"We took immediate action and called the current Reform councillor forward to discuss, ask [for] it to be removed, and reminded of the secrecy requirements of the count," he said.
"This is a very serious issue and it was made clear that [it was] reported to the single point of contact at Staffordshire Police."
Richard Tice commented on the incident, saying voters recognized that Reform UK members were "real people, in the real world," and added that the party would learn from the mistakes made.
"No-one's complacent, no-one's perfect, we never stop learning - that's what we do in life," he said.
Council Composition and Priorities
As the council is elected in thirds, not all seats were contested in this election. Labour holds 14 councillors on the authority, while Reform UK now has 10 councillors in total, having won a by-election in the Spital ward earlier this year.
The remaining six councillors include one Green councillor, three Conservatives, and two independents.
Paul Turner, who stood for Reform UK after previously serving as an independent councillor and a Conservative councillor, stated his main priority was to ensure a smooth transition to a unitary authority.
"No silly antics, we won't be playing party politics with it, we will deliver for Tamworth," he said.
A further election in the Wilnecote ward in Tamworth was scheduled for a later date due to the death of one of the candidates in the weeks before the polls opened.
Cannock Chase Election Outlook
Cannock Chase has historically been a Labour stronghold, with the party holding 18 of the 36 seats prior to Thursday's election. Although only a third of the seats were contested, the 12 seats up for election could potentially shift the balance of power.
In 2025, Reform UK won all eight of Cannock's county divisions, a success they aim to build upon this year. The Green Party is also seeking to expand its representation in the area.
Wards contested include Norton Canes, Hednesford, and Brereton.
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