Farage hoping to win three mayoralties and another MP – but says biggest risk is not delivering on promises
Nigel Farage is hoping to win two or three mayoralties in this week local elections – and perhaps even the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.
But the Reform UK leader revealed to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby his biggest fear is “winning but not delivering”.
Councillors across England are facing election on Thursday, as well as six mayoralties being up for grabs.
Politics latest: Why PM looks set to U-turn
And the Runcorn and Helsby by-election is taking place after Labour’s Mike Amesbury resigned, having punched a constituent.
Mr Farage is hoping to build on the momentum he built last year at the general election – and says he wants to replace the Conservatives as the main opposition party.
Asked what his goals were, the Reform leader said he was feeling more and more “optimistic” about winning in the by-election.
As for the rest of the votes, Mr Farage said: “I think national vote share, we’re going to do very, very well. I think mayoralties, I think we’ll win two, maybe three.”
He highlighted Hull, Lincolnshire and perhaps Doncaster as his party’s best hopes.
Mr Farage was also asked about whether his party would – at a local level – do deals with the likes of Labour and Tory councillors in order to control local authorities.
He said that any agreement would have to be done on the grounds that all parties agree to council finances being audited, and also that local authorities “stop fighting climate change – things like that”.
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What to expect from the local elections?
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But Mr Farage said he did not want to be making deals with Labour or the Conservatives.
Asked what the biggest risk to his party was, Mr Farage said: “The biggest risk is succeeding, winning mayoralties, perhaps winning control of county councils, and not delivering.”
He said if Reform doesn’t deliver, then voters will say the party is “just like” the others.
Mr Farage said his party is doing well because it is trusted, and voters have lost faith in others.
The Reform UK leader was also asked about his stance on the NHS.
Mr Farage stated that he wants to see the way the health service is funded changed.
He said that he wants it to be “free at the point of delivery”, but not “funded through general taxation”.
He claimed the UK gets “worse bang for buck” than any other country when it comes to health spending.
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Mr Farage said it would be “odd” for Labour to be in the position where it is upset at the suggestion that rich people might have to pay for healthcare.
The interview with Nigel Farage is part of a series of election previews with all major parties invited.
Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf has reversed his decision to quit the party, saying “the mission is too important” and that he “cannot let people down”.
Instead, he said he will return in a new role, heading up an Elon Musk-inspired “UK DOGE” team.
In a statement, he said: “Over the last 24 hours I have received a huge number of lovely and heartfelt messages from people who have expressed their dismay at my resignation, urging me to reconsider.”
He added: “I know the mission is too important and I cannot let people down.
“So, I will be continuing my work with Reform, my commitment redoubled.”
Mr Yusuf said he would be returning in a new role, seemingly focusing on cuts and efficiency within government.
He said he would “fight for taxpayers”.
Only two days prior, Mr Yusuf dramatically handed in his resignation.
He claimed he no longer thought getting a Reform government elected was a “good use of my time” – but has now seemingly changed his mind.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage welcomed the news of Mr Yusuf’s return.
He said: “I am delighted that Zia Yusuf will head up Reform UK’s DOGE department.”
Nigel Farage welcomed Zia Yusuf’s return. File pic: PA
Read more:
Why did Zia Yusuf resign as chairman of Reform UK?
Reform’s rise forces rethink for SNP
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Mr Yusuf’s initial decision to quit came after he publicly distanced himself from the party’s new MP, Sarah Pochin, when she asked Sir Keir Starmer about banning the burka at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Reform said a ban was not party policy – and the chairman called it a “dumb” thing to ask.
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What is DOGE?
DOGE is a meme-coin inspired creation of Musk’s, standing for the Department of Government Efficiency.
It is the latest right-wing US import into British politics.
Before his public fallout with Donald Trump, the tech billionaire said his focus was saving taxpayers’ money by locating wasteful spending within government and cutting it.
Read more: How Elon Musk’s mission to cut government spending fell flat
However, opposition politicians questioned the impact of his efforts and how much he actually saved.
Musk initially had ambitions to slash government spending by $2trn (£1.5trn) – but this was dramatically reduced to $1trn (£750bn) and then to just $150bn (£111bn).
Singapore’s ousting of unlicensed firms was not a sudden move and it’s among several regions tightening licensing duties.
Allegations on the president’s ties to the crypto industry and claims of “Trump derangement syndrome” clouded attempts to reach an agreement on a market structure bill in Congress.
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