02-05-2025
Reform UK takes control of Lancashire County Council sweeping to victory over Conservatives
Reform UK has taken control of Lancashire County Council, winning the 53 of the 84 seats to gain a majority.
The Conservatives previously controlled the council with 46 seats ahead of Labour on 27, while Reform had just two.
But the party swept to victory, reducing the Tories to just eight councillors, will Labour saw their numbers drop to five.
One of Reform UK's new Lancashire County councillors for Morecambe Central Gary Kniveton said his party wants to bring common sense back to politics: "It's a massive test for me as an individual, because two months ago, I wasn't even into politics.
"I'm not a politician, I've got no experience whatsoever but, like a lot of the candidates here, we're laymen that have stepped up to the mark, because no one seems to be talking on our behalf anymore. And it looks like it's working."
Nigel Farage has hailed Reform UK as 'the main opposition party' after his party took control of Lancashire and other councils from the Tories and Labour and gained an MP in Runcorn and Helsby.
He said Reform UK had had 'the Labour Party for lunch' and 'wiped out' the Conservatives in parts of England as local election results rolled in.
The elections mark 'the end of two-party politics' and the 'beginning of the end of the Conservative Party', he said.
He told Sky News: "This is Reform-quake, that's what's going on across the country now, these are the most astonishing set of Local election results in the history of our country."
Cllr Gary Kniveton, Morecambe Central, Reform UK speaks to ITV Granada.
Lancashire County Council Result
Luke Parker won the Preston East ward for Reform UK. He says the party is attracting a lot of support from people who have never voted before: "There's a lot of things nationally and also locally that people are not happy with.
"The big two parties, Labour and the Conservatives, in my opinion have had it far too easy for far too long and, we're here to make some changes, be the voice for the people."
Cllr Luke Parker, Preston East, Reform UK, speaks to ITV Granada.
Lancashire County Council's returning officer Mark Wynn said: 'I would like to say thank you to everyone who helped to make sure the election process ran smoothly in the county.
'A lot of hard work went on behind the scenes to ensure people were aware that the elections were taking place.
'I would particularly like to thank everyone who staffed the polling stations throughout yesterday, as well as today's vote counters who have worked diligently so I could quickly and accurately announce the results.
'Congratulations to all new councillors.'
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