Reform UK was tipped to take over scores of local councils that have now chosen to postpone their elections under Labour's local shake-up, an analysis of recent polling shows.
It comes as Labour confirms 29 councils have agreed to delay their elections until 2027 to make way for the rejig, which will see new 'unitary' councils replace the two-tier system of district and county councils that exists in many parts of England.
Tory-controlled Essex and Norfolk - areas projected to turn light blue - are also expected to postpone their elections after private requests from leaders, which will push the total number of disenfranchised voters up from 4.5 to 5.6 million in 30 areas, The Times reports. More councils are expected to follow.
Nigel Farage has accused both the Tories and Labour of "colluding" to keep his party out of power by delaying elections on May 7, launching a judicial review into the decision.
Labour has insisted that these elections need to be delayed to allow for a reorganisation of local government, rejecting the claim that it's an “attack on democracy”.
Amid the row, GB News has crunched the results of a “mega-poll” of 5,000 voters by JL Partners to establish which of the postponed councils were projected to fall under a Reform administration.
REVEALED: The delayed council elections where Reform was poised to win big as 4.5 MILLION denied a vote | Getty Images
The representative sample covers 26 council areas due to be delayed across the country. The polling was conducted on January 17, five days prior to Labour confirming that 29 councils had opted into the scheme.
When asked, 'If there were local elections in your area in May, which party would you vote for?', respondents in 14 of the 26 councils due to be delayed threw their weight behind Reform.
The insurgent party was projected to see its best result in Tamworth Borough Council, where a third of the seats were up for grabs.
A total of 46 per cent of the constituents plumped for Reform, followed by 19 per cent for Labour and 14 per cent for the Conservatives.
Cannock Chase District Council in Staffordshire was also tipped for a turquoise tidal wave, with 43 per cent of respondents planning to vote before Reform, followed by the Conservatives (22 per cent) and Labour (23 per cent).
The result was similarly decisive in Exeter, where a third of the seats were up for grabs at the City Council. Reform finished up on 40 per cent, with Labour in second place on 17 per cent and Conservatives in third (17).
It comes after one of its Conservative councillors defected to Reform in December, citing the need for "clear decisive action" on illegal immigration and other "major issues".
Forty per cent of Thurrock Council constituents would have backed Farage's party if the local elections were still going ahead in May, followed by 19 per cent for Labour and 14 per cent for Conservatives.
LATEST MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENTS
Neighbouring authorities, Basildon and Harlow, were also expected to turn light blue if elections were not postponed.
Harlow is a bellwether town, meaning the party chosen by its constituents typically goes on to form the next Government.
From highest to lowest, here is the full list of councils that were projected to fall under a Reform administration if elections were still going ahead:
Tamworth Borough Council – Ref 46% / Con 14% / Lab 19%
Cannock Chase District Council – Ref 43% / Con 22% / Lab 23%
Thurrock Council – Ref 40% / Con 14% / Lab 19%
Basildon Borough Council – Ref 36% / Con 24% / Lab 21%
Hyndburn Borough Council – Ref 33% / Con 10% / Lab 27%
Norwich City Council – Ref 33% / Con 7% / Lab 22%
Chorley Borough Council – Ref 32% / Con 19% / Lab 24%
Redditch Borough Council – Ref 32% / Con 22% / Lab 22%
Rugby Borough Council – Ref 30% / Con 22% / Lab 20%
West Sussex County Council – Ref 28% / Con 24% / Lab 14%
East Sussex County Council – Ref 26% / Con 16% / Lab 15%
Hastings Borough Council – Ref 26% / Con 9% / Lab 19%
Stevenage Borough Council – Ref 23% / Con 19% / Lab 21%
More From GB News