Voters in Reading have delivered a decisive rejection of Reform UK, with every one of the party’s council candidates failing to secure election in the latest local elections.
The result in Emmer Green highlighted the scale of the party’s struggle to gain traction in the Berkshire town. Reform UK candidate Mr Mitchell finished in third place with 805 votes, behind Green Party candidate Hannah Connibear, who secured 1,103 votes, and Labour’s Alex Smith, who won the seat with 1,143 votes.
The Emmer Green declaration was the very first result announced during the local election count on Friday, May 8, setting the tone for a disappointing night for Reform UK across Reading.
Mr Mitchell had previously been elected as a Conservative councillor for Emmer Green in both 2021 and during the all-out elections in 2022. His move away from the Conservatives to stand under the Reform UK banner appeared unable to convince enough voters, with many residents instead backing Labour or the Greens.
In Reading, voters appeared more concerned with local issues such as housing, transport, public services and environmental concerns than with the national culture war politics often associated with Reform UK’s campaigns.
The Green Party’s strong showing in Emmer Green also points to a growing appetite among some voters for alternative parties outside the traditional Conservative and Labour divide. Hannah Connibear’s second-place finish demonstrated that environmentally focused policies and community-based campaigning continue to resonate with sections of the electorate.
Although Reform UK continues to position itself as a rising force in British politics, Reading’s election results suggest that translating online support and national publicity into actual council seats remains a significant hurdle.
For now at least, Reading Borough Council remains entirely free of Reform UK representation, after voters decisively shut the party out at the ballot box.
The national picture, although seeing Reform UK gains, still has them fourth across the country for council seats.
