Reform ends Tories' 25-year control of Essex

Reform has won control of Essex County Council and ended the Conservatives' 25-year reign at the local authority.

Nigel Farage's party has passed the threshold of 40 seats after counting overnight and this morning.

Reform claimed "frustrated" voters had opted for "change", and its councillor Russell Quirk said people had vented their "disquiet" with the traditional Westminster parties.

The Tories, Labour and independents also lost seats to Reform during district council elections in the county.

"It's proven by the results that [Labour, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats] haven't covered themselves in glory," said Quirk, who is yet to find out whether he has won a seat on Essex County Council.

"This is a litmus test. A barometer of feeling nationally and locally."

Quirk, who is already a Brentwood borough councillor, told BBC Essex presenter Sonia Watson people were disappointed with the Tories' tenure on the county council, including their record on increasing council tax and on potholes.

Several Essex County Council cabinet members have lost seats, including John Spence in charge of adult social care, environment portfolio holder Peter Schwier, and Mark Durham, in charge of culture.

Six Tory shadow cabinet members are MPs in Essex, including party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Elsewhere, Farage's party won all 13 seats up for grabs on Rochford District Council, with Conservative council leader Danielle Belton losing her seat.

Reform becomes the largest party on the council, but the authority remains under no overall control.

In Basildon, the party won 11 seats. Labour and the Tories still have 12 seats each, but Reform could end up being involved in the running of the local authority.

Sam Journet, Reform UK group leader in the town, said it was an "absolutely barnstorming" win.

Reform won five seats at Colchester City Council and eight at Southend-on-Sea City Council, but once again, both councils remain under no overall control.

Labour lost three seats to Reform in the coastal city

Southend council leader Daniel Cowan said there had been "no talk of local services" during the campaign.

"That really concerns me," Cowan said.

"People have been elected on a national message, but nobody knows what their local mandate is. These elections are about local services, not national politics."

Reform did not replicate its gains in Harlow, where the Tories won all 11 seats on the district council that were up for election - increasing their majority.

It has been a mixed picture for the Lib Dems in the county.

At Brentwood Borough Council, they won enough seats to remain the largest party, but it remains under no overall control.

Colchester's leader, Lib Dem David King, said it reflected "national discontent with established parties".

The Greens managed to retain their seats on Essex County Council, and made two gains at Southend - but otherwise have not had huge breakthroughs so far in Essex.

Turnout was up significantly on the last local elections in Essex two years ago.

Some wards in Basildon saw turnout above 50%. In Colchester, 41% turned out, and Southend witnessed a 43% turnout - up from 31% in 2024.

Negotiations between parties will now take place across many of the district councils, to see who will form administrations.

The results for Thurrock Council and Epping Forest District Council are expected later on Friday, as well as the remaining counts for the county council.

Additional reporting by Gabby Colenso, in Southend.

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