Reform UK is expected to be the biggest party in four councils following the Government's decision to row back on postponing local elections in May.
It comes as 30 local authorities bring their elections forward from 2027 after the Government received advice from lawyers following a legal challenge from Reform UK.
Nigel Farage declared the decision, which affects more than 4.5 million people, not only a "victory for Reform, but, more importantly, a victory for democracy in this country".
Indeed, polling data suggests the insurgent party stands to gain from Mr Starmer's climbdown, with scores of seats across the country now up for grabs.
REVEALED: The councils now poised for a Reform takeover following Keir Starmer's climbdown - is YOURS one? | Getty Images
Turquoise tidal wave? Not quite
Crunching the results of the “mega-poll” of 5,000 voters by JL Partners, originally published in January, Reform is expected to make significant gains at the ballot box.
However, only a third of seats are up for grabs in the majority of postponed elections now going ahead, meaning that, even if Reform sweeps most of the seats on these councils, they still won’t take overall control.
This ceiling is best illustrated in Tamworth Borough Council, where polling has Reform finishing up on 46 per cent, followed by 19 per cent for Labour and 14 per cent for the Conservatives.
Despite the commanding lead, only a third of seats are to be contested.
However, a strong showing will send a strong message to the two main parties and enable Reform to gain a foothold in future elections.
Turquoise takeover
Reform is polling highest in four councils that have all seats up for grabs, suggesting a turquoise takeover come election day.
The cleanest sweep is projected in the local authority of Thurrock in Essex. Forty per cent of Thurrock Council constituents are backing Farage's party, followed by 19 per cent for Labour and 14 per cent for the Conservatives.
Reform is also polling highest in Suffolk, West Sussex and East Sussex, all of which have every seat up for grabs.
Overall, Reform is predicted to take home 28 per cent of the vote in places with cancelled contests, pipping Tories to the post on 21 per cent and Labour on 17 per cent.
The Liberal Democrats and the Greens are trailing on 16 per cent and 13 per cent respectively.
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed penned a 353-word letter to council leaders on Monday confirming the U-turn.
Mr Reed wrote: "The Government can confirm that all local elections in May 2026 will now go ahead.
"I recognise that many of the local councils undergoing reorganisation voiced genuine concerns about the pressure they are under as we seek to deliver the most ambitious reforms of local government in a generation.
"I am therefore announcing today that we will provide up to £63million in additional capacity funding to the 21 local areas undergoing reorganisation across the whole programme, building on the £7.6million provided for developing proposals last year.
"I will shortly set out further detail about how that funding will be allocated."
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