Reform UK chose Sunderland to officially launch its campaign for the upcoming local elections on May 7, which could produce a major shift in the North East’s balance of power

15:45, 27 Mar 2026

Nigel Farage was in bullish form on Thursday evening. Closing out the show as Reform UK launched its UK local elections campaign with a packed rally in Sunderland, the Clacton MP confidently predicted a “political earthquake” about to hit the North East and sweep his party into power in more of our local councils.

And the mood among the hundreds of party members, supporters, and election candidates inside Houghton-le-Spring’s Sunderland Live Arena was similarly upbeat. Wearside has long been a prime target for the right-wing insurgents, with Mr Farage and others fondly recalling the scenes from June 2016 when the city declared its vote to leave the European Union in the Brexit referendum.

The balance of political power in Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, and Newcastle could alter dramatically within the next six weeks, as each area stages ‘all out’ council elections on May 7. And, after a landslide win in County Durham a year ago, the widespread expectation is for yet more significant Reform gains in what are traditional Labour heartlands in Tyne and Wear.

Christine Purvis, a Reform UK member from Rainton, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Thursday evening that she felt “let down” by Labour since the last general election. Husband Barry, 65, added: “Someone who listens, that is what we want. Someone committed to this area and willing to stand up for working class people. Labour have not done what they said they would and people do feel let down.”

And Richard Brown, a former Conservative Party member from Consett, agreed that the UK’s traditional main parties seem “lost”.

Mr Farage was keen to present the upcoming polls as a referendum on Keir Starmer’s premiership. And, while also touting claims that Reform-run councils had delivered more than £300 million of budget savings in the last year, much of his address on Thursday evening focused on familiar national topics – particularly immigration and net zero.

Reform has promised mass deportations of illegal migrants carried out by a UK Deportation Command, likened to a British version of the US’ ICE agents by opponents. Though immigration is an issue local councils have little to no influence over, it was the number one priority for most people the Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to at the campaign launch.

72-year-old John Dickinson, from Washington, said: “The immigration is the main thing, what is being spent on that and how much trouble we are in as a country. That money has got to go back into our country.”

Mr Dickinson also raised concerns about the cost of living. He said: “Everybody will start leaving here and going to Australia and places like that. Our grandkids are already talking about it.

“I have worked all over the world and I have always said that there is no place like home. Now I don’t think I could say that. There are so many places better off than here.”

Immigration was also a key concern for Reform supporter Rajdeep Chakraborti, an immigrant from India who now works as an academic at Durham University. The 43-year-old, of Shincliffe, criticised migrants coming to the UK illegally and the government’s housing of them in hotels, which Labour has promised to end.

Dr Chakraborti said: “I want to be part of British society. When you see all of the people coming here illegally and then this crazy idea that we are going to exchange migrants with France… it is nonsense. That is never going to succeed. What is the point of letting these people in and having them stay in hotels, paying for them?”

Mr Farage closed Thursday’s rally by introducing Aaron Roy, a former Labour councillor in Hartlepool who has defected to Reform UK. Coun Roy had resigned from Labour just days before, angry at the party agreeing to a 1.98% rise in council tax in his town.

Mr Farage had earlier praised Reform-run Durham County Council for limiting its council tax rise this year to 1.99%. However, Labour and the Conservatives have criticised Reform for increasing council tax in areas it controls despite promising voters that it would cut taxes.

Former Tory home secretary James Cleverly accused Reform of seeking to “backpedal” on taxes on Thursday, pointing to a 9% council tax hike in Worcestershire, and of “cutting the services people rely on” in County Durham.

A Labour Spokesperson said: “We know times are tough for a lot of people, so we’re focusing on people’s real priorities: supporting families with the cost of living, getting the NHS back on its feet, and bringing back pride in the places we all live in. Labour’s plan is working, we’ve raised the minimum wage, cut energy bills and brought NHS waiting lists down.

“Despite residents across the North East giving them a chance, Reform have proved disastrous. In Sunderland, they’ve turned Independent just 76 days after being elected. In Northumberland, their councillors have been expelled from their party for threatening the life of the Prime Minister and in Durham they’ve removed council tax exemptions for the lowest paid residents. Reform have no plan for our councils and our region – only Labour can deliver for the North East and keep our region on the up.”