Reform UK Ends Conservatives' 25-Year Control of Essex County Council
Reform UK has gained control of Essex County Council, marking the end of the Conservatives' 25-year administration. The party achieved the required 40 seats after vote counting concluded early today.
Reform councillor Russell Quirk attributed the party's success to “frustrated” voters seeking “change” and expressing “disquiet” with traditional Westminster parties. This sentiment was evident as both Conservative and Labour parties, alongside independents, lost seats to Reform in various district council elections across Essex.
Mr Quirk, an existing Brentwood borough councillor, highlighted local grievances, including the Conservative county council's record on council tax increases and pothole maintenance. Several Conservative cabinet members on the county council, including John Spence (adult social care), Peter Schwier (environment), and Mark Durham (culture), lost their seats.
Beyond the county council, Reform UK secured all 13 available seats on Rochford District Council, leading to the defeat of Conservative council leader Danielle Belton. While Reform is now the largest party there, the council remains under no overall control. In Basildon, Reform won 11 seats, positioning the party to potentially influence the administration, with Labour and the Conservatives each holding 12 seats.
Reform also secured five seats at Colchester City Council and eight at Southend-on-Sea City Council, although both authorities similarly remain without overall control. Southend council leader Daniel Cowan voiced concerns that the campaign focused heavily on national politics rather than local services, questioning the mandate of newly elected councillors on local issues.
In contrast, Harlow saw the Conservatives retain all 11 contested seats on the district council, increasing their majority. Turnout for these local elections in Essex was notably higher than two years prior, with some Basildon wards exceeding 50% and Southend seeing 43% turnout, up from 31% in 2024.
