The Deputy Leader of Reform UK has stated that the party's newly elected councillors will not enter into coalitions with other political groups. Richard Tice, MP for Boston and Skegness, made the announcement during an interview with Sky News, emphasizing that the party intends to focus on delivering 'common sense politics' for voters.
Mr. Tice asserted that voters did not elect Reform candidates to form alliances, following the party's remarkable success in the local elections, where they secured over 1,400 seats nationwide. 'What Nigel and our brilliant candidates and councillors have achieved is truly remarkable. We have delivered a political earthquake,' he said.
He further explained that voters have shown overwhelming support for Reform's performance in councils they already controlled. 'Do you know what voters have done in their millions? They've said we want more Reform because we started running majority councils, nine of them, in May 2025. We've done a great job so far. Voters have looked at it and they've doubled down.'
Reform Now Controls 14 Councils
Following the elections, Reform UK now holds majority control of 14 councils across the country. In Birmingham, the party made significant gains, winning 22 seats on the city council. This result ended Labour's 14-year control of the authority, though Reform fell short of the 51 seats needed for an outright majority. The Green Party secured 19 seats, while Labour was reduced to just 17 seats.
Mr. Tice outlined the party's approach going forward: 'Of course, it'll be about hard work. Roll your sleeves up, get stuck in, get stuff done. We're doing common sense politics, working with people across the whole spectrum, independents, whatever, in order to try and get stuff done, because that's what voters have asked us to do. They haven't asked us to enter into coalitions. They've asked us to save money and deliver better value and better services.'
New Councillors Bring Fresh Energy
Sue Willets, the newly elected Reform councillor for Perry Common in Birmingham, expressed enthusiasm for the work ahead. 'We are ordinary people from different walks of life with life experience. With that energy and different approach, we can fix some of those problems,' she said. 'We are dedicated people coming from the heart. It's not about climbing the ladder or making a name for ourselves. We want to make a big difference.'
