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Reform sets sights on all 57 council seats

Reform UK has confirmed it intends to contest all 57 seats on Swindon Borough Council in May’s local elections.

bySwindon 24
13 March 2026 • 7.30am
Reform sets sights on all 57 council seats

Photo: Harry Harnett

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The pledge was made during a visit to Swindon by Nigel Farage, where around 750 supporters attended a rally at MECA and about 100 protesters gathered outside.

Kirt Wakefield, chairman of Reform UK in Swindon, said the party plans to stand candidates across the borough.

“We are looking to contest all 57 seats within Swindon Borough Council,” he said. “We hope to win a majority.”

Reform currently has no councillors on Swindon Borough Council and this election marks its first significant attempt to gain representation locally.

However, when asked about detailed policy plans for running the authority, both national and local figures offered limited specifics.

During an interview ahead of the rally, Farage focused on national political issues rather than outlining a detailed programme for Swindon.

“After 14 years of Tory government, kind of a feeling that Labour would bring change, bring hope, and actually they’ve brought even more despair in a short space of time,” he said.

Photo: Harry Harnett

He pointed to concerns he believes are affecting the town, including housing pressures and crime.

“A law and order problem increasing, a social housing crisis, nearly 3,000 people here in Swindon on the social housing list,” he said.

When asked about the party’s approach to local services such as waste collection, highways and council finances, Farage said further detail would be provided by local candidates.

“I’ll leave it to our candidates list when it’s finalised to give you the full local solutions,” he said.

Wakefield said financial management would be a key focus for Reform locally and suggested council spending should be reviewed.

“I think some of the top issues are wastage within the council… we want to take a look and approach, try and see where there could be cost savings,” he said.

He also raised concerns about the cost of children’s social care placements and suggested savings could be made by reviewing how services are delivered.

Some of the candidates standing for Reform in the local elections

Asked about specific proposals, Wakefield said the party’s ideas were still being developed.

“We’ve got some candidates that work within those environments… they’ve got some ideas,” he said.

The rally centred largely on national themes, with speakers criticising mainstream political parties and calling for change.

Wakefield said Farage’s visit was intended to energise local supporters.

“I think it shows that he cares about Swindon and he wants us to win here,” he said.

With candidate lists yet to be finalised and campaigning under way ahead of May’s vote, Reform now faces the challenge of setting out a detailed local platform alongside its borough-wide ambitions.

Tags: politicsreform partyTop stories

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