A new map reveals the extent to which Reform UK has overtaken the Conservative Party in electoral support in certain parts of the country.
An Express analysis of general election data shows that Nigel Farage’s party earned more votes than the Tories in 136 different seats as shown in the graphic below (which you can explore for yourself).
Reform UK outperformed Rishi Sunak’s governing party in constituencies stretching from Scotland’s Orkney and Shetland isles to Plymouth in Devon.
It overtook the Conservatives in rural counties like Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr in Wales and Whitehaven and Workington in the Lake District, but also in urban constituencies such as east London’s Dagenham and Rainham and Manchester Central.
Take a look at where Reform overtook the Tories in our interactive map below:
The four Reform MPs who won a seat are:
- Nigel Farage, Clacton
- Lee Anderson, Ashfield
- Richard Tice, Boston and Skegness
- Rupert Lowe, Great Yarmouth
Due to Britian’s first past the post voting system where the electorate choose a candidate rather than party-the huge number of votes only resulted in the political distupters securing four parliamentary seats.
But these included Nigel Farage winning a spot in Westminster for the first time in his political career, ex-Conservative MP Lee Anderson retaining his Nottinghamshire constituency and Reform UK chairman Richard Tice being elected in Lincolnshire.
Speaking to reporters following his victory in Clacton, Farage said this was "the beginning of the end of the Conservative Party".
"There is a massive gap on the centre-right of British politics and my job is to fill it," he added.
The Reform UK leader then turned his attention to the new government stating that he would "now be targeting Labour votes".
He continued: "What is interesting is, there's no enthusiasm for Labour, there's no enthusiasm for Starmer whatsoever. In fact, about half of the vote is simply anti-Conservative vote. We're coming for Labour, be in no doubt about that.”
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An Express reader’s poll showed that Nigel Farage was their clear favourite to succeed Rishi Sunak despite him not even being in the party.
Although there is nothing stopping the former UKIP leader moving over to the Tories, the man himself reportedly poured scorn on the suggestion laughing when asked if he fancied the role and saying: “What a terrible idea. What a ghastly bunch they are.”
Attracting around half the number of voters as the Conservatives, an Express data analysis showed if the UK used a proportional representation system Reform UK would be the third largest party with 93 seats in Parliament.
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