It was a sensational night in Dudley for Nigel Farage's party as Reform UK swept the 2026 local elections, winning 22 out of 25 seats contested. The party made a convincing statement across the borough, with many candidates securing over 50% of the vote on a damaging night for the Conservatives and Labour.
In fact, there were only three wards out of 25 where a Reform candidate was not selected to be a councillor. These areas were:
- Halesowen North - Conservative hold
- Kingswinford North and Wall Heath - Conservative hold
- St Thomas's - Labour hold
The Conservatives remain the largest party overall, as only a third of seats were up for election this time. However, the immediate future is far from clear, and discussions will now have to be held about how the authority will be run.
Cllr Marco Longhi, Reform's Dudley chairman, said: "I am absolutely elated. I was coming in thinking if we get 15 out of the available 25 I would be a very happy man; 22 is amazing. Every single Reform councillor will put the people of Dudley first. We will be fighting for every single person in Dudley whether they voted for us or not."
The scale of Reform's victories was large, with many candidates taking over 50% of the vote. The party's success highlights a shift in voter sentiment, with residents across the borough making their feelings clear. The results have left the political landscape in Dudley reshaped, and all eyes are now on how the council will move forward.
