"Nigel Farage chose Sunderland for the launch of Reform UK’s local election campaign because, he said, it was where he had first sensed the big political earthquake underfoot. A decade ago next month, the city was the first to declare its vote in the Brexit referendum a thumping 61% opting to leave the EU and the aftershocks are still being felt across Labour's heartlands."
"Labour's red wall suffered an astonishing collapse on Friday as hundreds of council seats fell to Reform UK, overturning half a century of political control in Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside. In what will be one of the keenest-felt defeats, Labour lost control in Barnsley for the first time in the council's 52-year history."
"One of the most brutal defenestrations, though, came in Sunderland, where Farage's party won 58 of the 75 seats up for grabs. Labour was left with just five councillors after starting the day with 48 on the council it has run since 1974."
"The results were ominous for several of the party's big beasts. In Wigan, the constituency of the culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, Reform UK won all but one of the 25 seats up for grabs, while Labour won none. In Tameside, a borough spanning the constituencies of the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and the chief whip, Jonathan Reynolds, Labour also lost control."
Nigel Farage launched Reform UK’s local election campaign in Sunderland, citing the city as the first place he sensed a major political shift during the Brexit referendum. Sunderland voted 61% to leave the EU, and the effects have continued to be felt in Labour’s traditional areas. Labour suffered large losses as hundreds of council seats fell to Reform UK, ending long periods of control in Sunderland, Gateshead, and South Tyneside. Labour also lost control in Barnsley for the first time in 52 years. Reform UK won most seats in Wigan and took control in Sunderland, leaving Labour with only five councillors. New councillors included controversial and locally known figures, while some residents said they switched away from Labour for the first time.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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