Reform UK Fails to Secure Reading Council Seats

Reform UK failed to win any seats on Reading Borough Council after fielding candidates in all 16 wards in this year's local elections.

Alan Gulliver was the party's first-ever candidate in Reading, standing in Norcot where he came fifth and Labour's Mamuna Naz won.

The party sent leaflets to voters, some arriving on Bank Holiday Monday (May 4), but that didn't turn into wins.

Clarence Mitchell, who defected from the Conservatives, was the top-scoring Reform candidate with 805 votes but still lost his Emmer Green seat, finishing third. The seat was won by Conservative Alex Smith with 1,143 votes, with Green candidate Hannah Conibear second on 1,103.

"Obviously, on a personal level, it's disappointing. I've been proud and privileged to have served the people of Emmer Green for the last five years, to the best of my ability. I'm very grateful for everybody that voted for me."

Mr Mitchell had been elected as a Conservative councillor for Emmer Green in 2021 and 2022.

Reform did best in the west and south of Reading but still fell short. Steven Low (Tilehurst) scored 763, behind Liberal Democrat Meri O'Connell who won with 1,144 (a majority of 381). In Kentwood, Stephen Ruston had 736 to runner-up David Milne-Buckley's 775 - observers say Reform may have split the centre-right vote there.

Incumbent Labour councillors held Whitley and Church comfortably: Ruth McEwan won with 1,095 (beating Reform's Matthew Reynolds by 415) and Rachel Eden took 919 (beating Reform's Richie Sahni by 307).

On the popular vote Reform came fourth with 8,592 votes, behind the Conservatives on 9,179.

How each Reform candidate performed: Clarence Mitchell (Emmer Green): 805; Steven Low (Tilehurst): 763; Stephen Ruston (Kentwood): 736; Matthew Reynolds (Church): 680; Oliver Maunder (Norcot): 641; Bev Heslin (Southcote): 623; Richie Sahni (Whitley): 612; Jeff Lewis (Caversham): 600; James Stothard (Caversham Heights): 580; Ilayda Molloy (Caversham Heights): 496; Petru Mereacre (Coley): 445; Alexander Kelly (Thames): 351; Diana Whitehouse (Battle): 335; Prabhdeep Singh (Katesgrove): 279; Darren Seward (Redlands): 254; Paul Newton (Abbey): 202; Stephen Ham (Park): 190.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter