As Reform UK celebrates its latest successes in the local elections, speculation is rife about what its growth in popularity could mean for the party and its political fortunes.
Both the Labour and Conservative parties were left bruised by the 1 May elections, with Labour losing the previously safe Runcorn and Helsby constituency in a by-election and almost 200 councillors, while the Tories lost more than 600 councillors along with control of all 15 local authorities.
Many of those losses came at the hands of Reform UK, which won more than 600 council seats and took control of 10 local authorities.
Nigel Farage hailed Reform UK’s gains as “unprecedented” and said it was “the end of two-party politics”.
In the wake of the results, health secretary Wes Streeting said Reform is “a real threat” to Labour and is being treated as a “serious opposition force”, although the government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments has also been cited as putting off voters.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch previously said the Tories would “come out fighting” to try to regain public support, but also that they would not rush policy proposals.
She also ruled out resurrecting former prime minister Rishi Sunak’s proposal to reintroduce national service, following reports that some MPs had suggested the move.
Reform UK’s victories are being seen by some as a sign of what could happen in next year’s Scottish election. Scotland will go to the polls in May next year for the Scottish Parliament elections.
Polling expert Sir John Curtice said the party’s gains in last week’s local elections are probably “bad news” for Scottish Labour and the Conservatives, because Nigel Farage’s party is primarily taking votes from the first minister’s opponents.
Speaking to the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland radio programme on Monday, Curtice said the results from last Thursday show there is “no reason to disbelieve” the message from opinion polls about Reform’s level of support.
In the wake of Reform’s gains, Scottish first minister John Swinney said there is a “very real possibility” that Nigel Farage could be the UK’s next prime minister, adding: “It makes me very fearful of what lies ahead”.
With speculation rife about what last week’s local election results mean for politics, and specifically Reform UK, Yahoo News UK is asking what you think.
For some, the result is indicative that Reform could win the next general election, or at least become the opposition party.
However, others think the party’s support will decline, and historically some have described Reform as a protest vote for those who are unhappy with the other major parties. Indeed, while people may vote a certain way in local elections, it does not mean they will do the same in a general election.
Or perhaps you have an entirely different view on Reform’s local elections success and want to share it.
Pick the choice that is closest to your view in our poll below.
Come back on Friday to read the results and analysis via the link below.
Read more of Yahoo UK’s Poll of the Week articles
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