In a night that saw the political landscape of local government shift across several regions, Reform UK achieved a string of notable victories in by-elections held on August 7, 2025. The party, which has been steadily gaining traction in recent months, not only made inroads into areas previously considered strongholds for other parties but also managed to defend and expand its presence in councils where it already held seats. The results have left established parties reeling and sparked fresh debate about the direction of UK politics at the grassroots level.
Perhaps the most symbolic of these wins came in Monmouthshire, Wales, where Reform UK candidate Martin John Stevens topped the poll in the Goytre Ward by-election for Goetre Community Council. The victory was particularly striking, given that the area had been declared a “Reform-free zone” just two weeks prior by Richard John, leader of the Conservative group on Monmouthshire council. Stevens secured 150 votes, outpacing Labour’s Neil James Parry (115 votes), Conservative Andrew Michael Butler (97 votes), and Maureen Catherine Willcox (48 votes). The by-election, which saw a turnout of 37 percent, was called after a councillor lost their seat due to non-attendance at meetings. As a result, Goetre Community Council now features one councillor each from Reform, Labour, and the Conservatives.
Stuart Keyte, a Reform councillor on Torfaen Borough Council and chair of the party’s Torfaen and Monmouthshire branch, didn’t hold back in celebrating the result. He pointed to the Conservatives’ vigorous campaign, which included “dawn leaflet raids on the day of the election and big names knocking on doors.” According to Keyte, even the involvement of former MP David Davies in Conservative canvassing couldn’t stem the tide: “So much for being a Reform-free zone.” He described the recent elections as “preparation for when the Senedd elections start to kick off,” signaling Reform’s intent to build momentum ahead of next year’s Welsh elections, which will use a new proportional system to elect six Senedd Members per constituency.
The Monmouthshire win was just one part of a broader pattern. On the same night, Reform UK also captured the previously Labour-held Llangennech seat on Carmarthenshire County Council, reinforcing the party’s claim that it is now “polling in the high twenties or projected to win in seats across Wales.” This surge has been described by party figures as a sign that Reform is challenging not just in isolated pockets, but across the country.
Meanwhile, in County Durham, England, Reform UK successfully defended its seat in the Easington and Shotton ward by-election for Durham County Council. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Reform councillor John Bailey in June due to ill health. Louise Penders, who moved to Easington from Kent in 2018, was elected with 1,208 votes—an impressive 46.7% of the total 2,589 votes cast. Labour’s Angela Surtees finished second with 523 votes, while Independent Chris Hood was just behind with 520. The turnout for this by-election was 21.7 percent.
Penders’ campaign focused on revitalizing the ward and addressing the needs of local youth. “A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me with the campaign over the past few weeks,” she said after the result, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. She pledged to “put the villages within the ward back on the map in a positive light for all to see,” and named the establishment of youth groups for children and teenagers as one of her top priorities. “Next week cannot come quick enough, and we can start getting things done for Easington and Shotton. One of my biggest priorities is getting youth groups set up for kids and teenagers. At the moment, there is nothing for them to do.”
Darren Grimes, a former GB News host and Reform councillor, praised Penders for having “found that incredible community spirit in our old mining villages that the political class has tried to extinguish. Now she’s paying that welcome back by fighting for the very people of Easington and Shotton who made her feel at home.” The win increased Reform’s majority on Durham County Council to 64 seats, after the party had previously lost a seat to the Liberal Democrats in July. The Easington and Shotton ward itself had recently undergone boundary changes ahead of the local elections in May, making the result a further testament to Reform’s organizational strength.
But the night’s successes for Reform UK didn’t end there. In Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, the party swept all three available seats in Barrow Town Council by-elections. Nathan Holmes won the Barrow Island ward with 162 votes, while Sienna Churcher and Colin Rudd each claimed 414 votes to secure the two Risedale ward seats. The turnout was 20.33 percent for Barrow Island and 16.40 percent for Risedale. These victories increased Reform’s representation on the council, which still has a Labour majority of nine, with 15 Labour councillors, two Conservatives, one independent, and now three Reform councillors.
The Barrow-in-Furness branch of Reform UK described their win as “a message from the people of Barrow that it’s time for a fresh, honest approach to local politics.” In a statement posted online, they said, “We’ve never claimed to have all the answers, but we’ve always promised to listen, to speak up for our town, and to work hard for everyone—regardless of background, beliefs, or how you voted. From the bottom of our hearts: thank you for your trust. We’re here to serve you. Let’s get to work.”
Responses from rival parties reflected both the shock and the shifting political winds. The local Labour branch, which represents Barrow in Parliament, admitted, “It’s no secret that Labour’s first 12 months in office have been difficult, having been left with the monumental task of cleaning up 14 years of conservative government. By-elections are a snapshot of public mood and do not reflect the full picture, it’s clear from these results and from conversations on the doorstep that apathy is rife. We are of course disappointed by these results, all three of our candidates would have been assets to Barrow Town Council, and we will take time to reflect going forward.”
Meanwhile, Debbie Albion, Deputy Chair for Barrow & Furness Conservative Association, acknowledged the outcome with grace: “Democracy is an opportunity for folks to make a choice and the results of last night’s By Election gave a very clear message; we congratulate Reform and wish their candidates every success in their Town Council posts.” The Liberal Democrats, who lead the Westmorland and Furness Council, noted that “Reform’s victory comes as no surprise” and argued that “there needs to be a better alternative than the divisive politics we see from Nigel Farage and Reform.”
All told, the by-elections on August 7, 2025, have provided a vivid snapshot of the evolving mood among UK voters. Whether these results are a harbinger of broader national change or simply a reflection of local dynamics, one thing is clear: Reform UK is no longer a fringe presence in local politics. The party’s ability to win, defend, and expand its foothold—often in the face of intense opposition—suggests that the established parties will need to adapt quickly if they hope to stem the tide.
With council compositions shifting and new voices entering the conversation, the coming months promise to be anything but dull in the world of local government. For now, Reform UK’s supporters are celebrating a night that may mark a turning point in the party’s fortunes and perhaps, in the political map of Britain itself.
