Farage Targets Croydon, Bromley And Bexley As Reform UK Launches London Council Election Campaign With Aim Of First Ever Capital Wins
Reform UK is setting its sights on a string of London boroughs as it bids to win council seats in the capital for the first time, with the party identifying several areas it believes are within reach ahead of the 7 May local elections.
Speaking at the campaign launch in Croydon, Nigel Farage named Bromley, Bexley, Havering and Croydon itself as boroughs where the party believes it can mount a serious challenge. With all 32 London boroughs holding all-out elections next month and a total of 1,817 seats up for grabs, Reform is hoping its current standing in national polls will translate into meaningful gains in the capital, where it currently holds just 13 council seats.
The launch took place at Fairfield Halls in Croydon — a borough Farage singled out for particular attention, describing it as among the most poorly run councils in the country. Croydon has faced severe financial difficulties in recent years, having effectively declared bankruptcy on three separate occasions since 2020.
The event drew a large crowd of supporters, including a significant number of prospective candidates who were brought onto the stage towards the end of the evening in a visible show of organisational strength. The display came amid questions over whether the party has enough candidates to contest all 1,817 available seats across London. Farage acknowledged the challenge directly, saying the party was working to cover as high a proportion of seats as possible and offered an apology to any voters in uncovered constituencies who wished to cast a ballot for Reform.
On the question of council tax, Farage sought to distance himself from suggestions that the party had pledged to cut it, despite Reform leaflets from last year referencing reduced waste and lower taxes. He told supporters he had never personally committed to cutting council tax, pointing to the financial pressures facing local authorities across the board.
Outside the venue, a counter-demonstration took place organised by Croydon Stand Up To Racism. Protesters gathered on the street chanting slogans and arguing that Farage was not welcome in the borough. One organiser described Croydon as a multicultural community where residents live well together, while another protester argued that immigration was being used as a distraction from underlying economic pressures including housing costs and the rising cost of living. Inside the hall, hecklers were removed from the auditorium during the address.
The 7 May elections will represent one of the most significant electoral tests Reform UK has faced at local level. Whether the party can convert its national polling strength into council gains in one of the country’s most diverse and politically varied cities will be closely watched as a indicator of its broader trajectory ahead of future elections.
