Nigel Farage has said the "establishment is terrified" after millions of people across the UK are to be denied the vote in May.
There has been major disapproval over Labour's plans to push back district and county council elections scheduled to take place across the country in May as part of a shake-up to local government.
Critics, such as Mr Farage, have said Labour is "running scared" of voters after ministers said they would authorise delays if councils had concerns about their capacity to introduce reforms in time.
Writing on social media platform X, Mr Farage fumed: "29 councils have now officially asked for local elections to be delayed.
"That’s 3.9m people across 591 council seats who will lose their right to vote in May.
"The establishment are terrified because they know Reform would win."
The full list of those requesting elections to be delayed include: Adur, Basildon, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Cannock Chase, Cheltenham, Chorley, Crawley, East Sussex, Exeter, Harlow, Hastings, Hyndburn, Ipswich, Lincoln, Norfolk, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Pendle, Peterborough, Preston, Redditch, Rugby, Stevenage, Suffolk, Tamworth, Thurrock, Welwyn Hatfield, West Sussex and Worthing.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended the Government’s plans, said the prospect of postponements was "a common sense question" of whether to go forward with elections in cases where the local authority is due to undergo changes.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed also rejected that delays are "denying democracy."
Though political commentator and columnist, Sophie Corcoran, believes Labour is "trying to dodge" the ballot box with its plans.
EXCLUSIVE: Huge boost for Reform as Nigel Farage's party 'on the up' in bombshell new poll
Reform UK has been handed another major boost in a new bombshell poll that shows the party's continued momentum after two shock Tory defections.
It has been a chaotic, unique, and pretty remarkable week for Nigel Farage, who now sees his party steamrolling the opposition in new data.
Snap polling from Merlin Strategy on party momentum following Robert Jenrick's defection, shared exclusively with GB News, shows Reform having huge momentum.
When asked which parties were currently "on the up", a remarkable 55 per cent said Reform - substantially more than any other party.
Ex-councillor jailed for 20 weeks after stalking Dame Penny Mordaunt
A former councillor and Conservative Party member has been sentenced to 20 weeks in prison for stalking former Cabinet minister Dame Penny Mordaunt.
Edward Brandt, 61, was convicted at Southampton Crown Court of the stalking offence but cleared of a more serious charge involving severe alarm or distress.
The professional sailor received a 12-week sentence for stalking the ex-MP, with an additional eight weeks to run consecutively for breaching a stalking protection order.
Brandt committed seven violations of the order in December 2025 by failing to inform police about internet-capable devices and by setting up Facebook and Snapchat accounts. The protection order remains in effect until November 2034.
EXCLUSIVE: 'Kemi Badenoch has as much chance as Zack Polanski to be PM' says Robert Jenrick as he issues brutal takedown of former boss
Robert Jenrick has likened Kemi Badenoch's chances of becoming Prime Minister to those of Green leader and ex-hypnotherapist Zack Polanski.
Reform UK's newest MP added the decision for voters at the next General Election in 2029 would be "Nigel or bust", in an exclusive sit-down interview with GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope.
He made the bold declaration just a day after his dramatic departure from the Conservative Party when Tory leader Kemi Badenoch ousted her Shadow Justice Secretary from his position over a "secret" plot to defect to Nigel Farage's party.
A few hours later, Nigel Farage unveiled Mr Jenrick as Reform UK's sixth MP.
Upon making his decision to leave the party, of which he had been a member of since he was a teen, the ex-Tory explained why he reached his decision to leave.
Craig Guildford releases statement after retirement
Outgoing West Midlands Police chief Craig Guildford has released a statement following his retirement this afternoon.
The decision came as a result of heightened scrutiny from the media and MPs, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood admitting she had lost confidence in the Chief Constable after West Midlands Police's decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending their match against Aston Villa in November.
In a statement posted on the West Midlands Police website, he said: "I have come to the conclusion that the political and media frenzy around myself and my position has become detrimental to all the great work undertaken by my officers and staff in serving communities across the West Midlands.
"I have carefully considered my position and concluded that retirement is in the best interests of the organisation, myself and my family.
"It has been the honour of my career serving as the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police.
"With the force’s dedicated and hard-working workforce, together we have turned this force around. I therefore want to take this opportunity to recognise the outstanding level of service that this force provides to the public.
"I know this will continue, thanks to all of the officers, staff and volunteers who work for WMP who all strive to keep the public safe.
"I would also like to thank all of the communities of the West Midlands for your support. I will greatly miss the incredible people I have had the privilege to meet, work with and serve across the region."
EXCLUSIVE: Public confidence in Keir Starmer sinks as nearly half of voters view Labour as WEAK
Almost half of voters view Labour as a weak political party, according to a damning new poll.
Fresh data from Merlin Strategy, shared exclusively with GB News, has exposed sinking public confidence in Sir Keir Starmer's party as just 30 per cent of people described it as strong, while 45 per cent say it is weak.
In contrast, 48 per cent of voters described Reform UK as strong, while 21 per cent said the party appeared week.
Britons were however split when it came to the Tories, with 37 per cent saying they appeared weak and 34 per cent strong.
WATCH: Retired Scotland Yard detective Mike Neville reacts to the Chief of the West Midlands police Craig Guildford retiring
Disgraced West Midlands Police chief set to retire after Israeli fan ban row
West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford is set to retire from his post. | PAWest Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford is set to retire from his post.
His departure comes after the force was found to have used "exaggerated and untrue" intelligence to justify a ban on fans of an Israeli club, Maccabi Tel Aviv, from attending a match against Aston Villa in Birmingham.
Chief Constable Guildford is set to make the announcement at a press conference at 4.00pm on Friday.
According to The Guardian, the West Midlands Police chief is entitled to his full pension.
Robert Jenrick's defection is 'recipe for more of the same chaos', says Labour chairwoman
Labour said Robert Jenrick was “one of the arsonists who inflicted chaos and decline” on Britain while serving as a Tory minister under the previous government.
Citing comments made by Nigel Farage before Mr Jenrick defected to Reform UK yesterday, Labour chairwoman Anna Turley said: “In the words of his new party leader: Robert Jenrick is a fraud.
“He himself is one of the arsonists who inflicted chaos and decline on Britain while the Tories were in government.
“Now he wants the public to believe he’d do a better job through Farage’s Reform. It’s a recipe for more of the same chaos that held our country back for far too long.
“While he and the other 23 failed former Tory MPs who have run off to Reform focus on their careers, Labour is focused on delivering the change working people voted for and cutting the cost of living.”
Rachel Reeves says comments made by Nigel Farage 'should be taken with a pinch of salt' amid rumours of a Labour defection to Reform
Nigel Farage’s promise of a Labour defection to Reform UK should be taken “with a pinch of salt”, Rachel Reeves has insisted.
The Reform UK leader has promised a “well known” Labour defector would be revealed next week.
The Chancellor was asked today if she was worried about the prospect or if she was the defector.
“Nigel Farage says a lot of things and I think we should all take those with a pinch of salt,” she told ITV Tyne Tees.
Robert Jenrick reveals he had 'resolved' to join Reform UK over Christmas but 'final straw' came last week
Robert Jenrick said the 'final straw' for his defection came last week during a shadow cabinet discussion around whether Britain is 'broken'
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Robert Jenrick said he had “resolved” to join Reform UK over Christmas but the “final straw” came during a shadow cabinet away day last week.
Asked when he had decided to defect, Mr Jenrick told the BBC he had “come to a conclusion over years, frankly” since he resigned as immigration minister under Rishi Sunak.
He said: “I resolved to do this over the Christmas period, and then the final straw for me was when I went to a shadow cabinet away day, a week or so ago, and there was a discussion around the table about whether Britain is broken, and a PowerPoint slide was put up on the screen saying that the party line is that Britain is not broken.
“And I said, not in anger, asking the question, ‘why are we saying that?, because I believe Britain is broken’.”
He said some shadow cabinet colleagues had disagreed with him, while others had agreed but argued they could not say so publicly because the Conservatives had broken the country.
Kemi Badenoch says she has ruled out possible pact with Reform 'about a million times'
Kemi Badenoch said she has ruled out a possible pact with Reform 'about a million times'
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Kemi Badenoch has said she cannot do a deal with “liars” when asked about a possible pact with Reform UK in the wake of Robert Jenrick’s defection.
Asked if she could commit to the Conservatives going into the next election alone, the Tory leader said: “Yes. How do you do a deal with liars?
“How do you do a deal with people who have been saying things that were clearly not true, not just for months, but clearly for years?”
Asked if she was ruling out a potential pact with Nigel Farage’s party, she responded: “I have ruled it out about a million times.”
“Reform has been taking a lot of people who could not find work elsewhere," Mrs Badenoch added.
“They’ve been taking people who are repeatedly sacked from Government."
'The Conservative Party is too broken to change', Robert Jenrick writes exclusively for GB News
In an exclusive story for GB News, Robert Jenrick has described the Conservative Party as "too broken to change" and said he is "proud" to join Reform.
The ex-shadow justice secretary wrote: "I want to speak directly to GB News viewers. For too long, politicians have papered over the cracks. They’ve pretended things are fine when they’re not.
"The truth is that Britain is broken. And both the Conservatives and Labour broke it. I don’t say that lightly. But it’s the truth.
"In Government, the Conservative Party made grave mistakes. In Cabinet, I fought for important changes. To build more houses for our youngsters, to cut immigration, and to stop the boats.
"At first, I fought behind the scenes and then increasingly more loudly when my calls fell on deaf ears. But it still wasn’t enough."
Danny Kruger encourages Kemi Badenoch to 'get behind Nigel Farage'
Danny Kruger said the Conservative Party 'cannot deliver the sort of change that we on the right of politics or believe in'
| GB NEWSDanny Kruger has encouraged Kemi Badenoch and the Conservative party to "get behind Nigel Farage" after Robert Jenrick's defection.
Mr Kruger was elected as a member of the Conservative Party but defected to Reform UK in September 2025.
Speaking to GB News, he said: "I have great sympathy with Kemi and with the colleagues that we both left behind. But I'm afraid they should do the same thing.
"They need to recognise that the Conservative Party cannot deliver conservatism. It cannot deliver the sort of change that we on the right of politics or believe in. Nigel Farage can."
Leading pollster dismisses claims Holyrood election will be 'two-horse race' between Reform and SNP
Claims from Nigel Farage that May’s Holyrood election will be a “two-horse race” between Reform and the SNP have been dismissed by a leading pollster.
Instead, Mark Diffley said current levels of support indicate it could be “an absolute toss-up” between Reform and Labour as to who comes in second place and forms the main opposition in the Scottish Parliament.
His comments came less than 24 hours after Mr Farage visited Scotland, announcing former Tory UK government minister Malcom Offord – who defected to Reform last month – as the party’s leader north of the border.
Mr Diffley, founder and director of the Diffley Partnership polling company, said there is a “pattern of polling” in Scotland which shows Reform in second place – noting five out of the last six polls had put the party behind John Swinney’s SNP when it comes to voting intentions.
He said the polls “generally” show support for Reform on similar levels to that for Labour in Scotland, with only “a point or two” between the parties.
Pat McFadden says Robert Jenrick defection was 'continuation of chaos on the Tory right'
Pat McFadden said Robert Jenrick has 'form as long as your arm in terms of the record of the last government'
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Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said Robert Jenrick's defection was a "continuation of the chaos" from the "Tory right".
The Wolverhampton South East MP told GB News: "Yesterday was just a continuation of the chaos we've had on the Tory right for many years.
"I mean, Robert Kendrick's got form as long as your arm in terms of the record of the last government, the only difference is it's now being played out over two parties rather than one.
"I mean, I haven't been watching The Traitors on TV, but I don't think I have to when you've got this Westminster drama playing out, and for us. It just underlines the importance of getting on with the job of serving the country."
WATCH: New shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy talks of 'backstabbing' after Robert Jenrick's defection to Reform UK
Lee Anderson insists Robert Jenrick does not want to lead Reform UK: 'He wants to be part of the team'
Lee Anderson has insisted Robert Jenrick does not have his sights set on leading Reform UK.
Reform's Chief Whip told GB News: "We are a party that believes in healthy competition. Does Rob want to be leader?
"No he doesn't, he wants to be part of the team, he wants to put his shoulder to the wheel and work extremely hard for Reform UK, for Newark and for this country."
WATCH: Lib Dem MP says Robert Jenrick's defection to Reform was 'like an episode of The Traitors'
Work and Pensions Secretary says potential Labour defectors will be joining 'right-wing project' if they go to Reform
Pat McFadden insisted he was 'not worred' after Nigel Farage suggested there was about to be a Labour defection to his party
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Pat McFadden insisted he was “not worried” after Nigel Farage suggested there was about to be a Labour defection to Reform UK.
The Work and Pensions Secretary told Times Radio: “I’m not worried, and I don’t know if that will happen but if it does, it’s still a right-wing project.
“This is a project that parrots President Putin’s line on foreign affairs, we’ve seen that most recently over Ukraine.
“It’s a project that doesn’t believe in the NHS. Nigel Farage himself has said that the model of the NHS is wrong.
“So whether it’s on foreign affairs or domestic affairs, this is a right-wing project and we will stand firmly against it.”
WATCH: Lee Anderson insists Reform UK is not 'Tory 2.0' but is 'rehoming service for true British patriots'
New shadow justice secretary says public 'sick of the backbiting and backstabbing in politics' as he brands Robert Jenrick defection 'disappointing'
Nick Timothy said his shadow cabinet predecessor Robert Jenrick was “a friend of mine” but that the public were sick of “the backbiting and the backstabbing” in politics.
Asked whether he was friends with the former Tory, who defected to Reform UK on Thursday, the new shadow justice secretary told BBC Breakfast: “Yeah, Rob’s been a friend of mine for some time.
“It’s obviously disappointing that he’s decided to move on, but the thing is, what we learned yesterday is the clear contrast between the Conservatives led by Kemi Badenoch and the other parties and what they offer Britain today.
“The public are sick of the backbiting and the backstabbing and the lack of seriousness in our political parties when the challenges that the country faces are so serious, Kemi was given irrefutable evidence of what was about to happen, and she acted very decisively.”
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