"Reform are the only national party" | David Starkey & Mark Littlewood react to election results

For all that they were unsurprising, the local results were a political revelation. Reform have continued to conquer the areas that began shifting away from Labour ever since the Brexit referendum of 2016. Reaching, as Nigel Farage said, far further into those regions than even Boris Johnson managed in 2019.

If you break down the results in the Red Wall by ward level, you will see an even starker trend. The white working class is voting overwhelmingly for Reform, while the middle-class is largely sticking with Labour, the Lib Dems, or Greens.

As well as capturing the traditional Conservative heartlands in the East of England, Reform also came in second in Wales and joint-second in Scotland from a standing start. Giving them a significant presence throughout the United Kingdom.

If there is to be a vehicle to overturn the stifling uniparty consensus that has misruled this country for the last 30 years, and to prevent the maniac Greens from entering government, then it is increasingly clear that that vehicle is Reform. Others may wish it wasn't so, but we must deal with realities, not fantasies.

All that being said, the Conservatives retain stubborn support among wealthier southern areas. And while Reform performed spectacularly, it still remains to be seen whether their projected national vote share would see them win a majority. The question of some kind of deal pre- or post-general election remains open.

As ever, Mark Littlewood provides what I regard as the most acute analysis of the election results and what they mean. I hope you enjoy the episode!

Thumbnail image credit: Owain Davies