GAIN from Reform: What happens after?

This article is coming a little late, as I waited for more responses than I ended up with, but, here it is.

In British Politics, a lesser discussed feature (outside of Twitter/X) are council by-elections, which, for an individual and organisation so focused on the many smaller pictures across the country, is figurative gold.

A council by-election is triggered when a sitting councillor resigns their seat, dies or is removed from the council, and a moment which pops up every now and again is where Reform UK, the current insurgent newcomer to British Politics (until Your Party/Restore Britain properly hit the ground running) loses a by election in a seat they previously won, now, since the information for this article was attained there have been 6 more Reform losses, but they aren't to be covered here (yet).

So, I sent out an email to the 8 councillors who, at the time, were the only in the country to have gained their seat from Reform, I was returned 3 responses, from Sam Ammar (Bromsgrove South, LDM), Lian Pizzey (Horsley, GRN) and Keith Girling (Newark West, CON).

I asked these councillors the following questions:

1. Why do you think people were upset with Reform in your division?

2. What went through your mind when you won the by-election?

3. In your opinion, what is the best way to unseat a party like Reform who are popular nationally>

4. If you hadn’t won, is there anyone else you would’ve preferred to take the seat?

5. Who do you think is the most dangerous party in British Politics right now?

6. Do you think Reform’s popularity will last?

Here is how they Responded.

Sam Ammar - Liberal Democrat

Cllr Ammar was the first to respond, and had understandably decided that answering said questions could get her into some trouble, and rather opted to have a nice open conversation with me regarding my own aspirations in Politics and with this here site, saying on her victory from Reform: "I believe Reform has little policy locally and therefore it is their national message which is gaining them votes, their message is reductionist and does not address the real struggles that people have."

Cllr Ammar believes that Reform's losses come more from Reform's own perceived incompetence locally, rather than a larger collapse in Reform or a strategy to defeat them arising in other parties.

Keith Girling - Conservative and Unionist

Cllr Girling was the second to respond, simply choosing to answer the questions and no more, which is also understandable as councillors have a lot of work to do, his answers were also short and sweet, he said:

1. The locals were upset with the Reform councillor resigning just 6 days after election.

2. Girling was "Delighted and Relieved" when he won his seat.

3. To defeat Reform, parties need to Concentrate on a positive Conservative Message and highlight the failings of Reform.

4. Girling wouldn't have liked any other candidates winning against Reform, as the Conservatives are the only opposition to Reform in Newark and have delivered when asked.

5. Girling believes that equally Labour, the Greens and Reform are the most dangerous parties, but for separate reasons.

6. Reform's Popularity will crumble, according to Girling, as Reform's local incompetence and weak MP's show their issues.

Girling's opinion revolves around the idea that the Conservative's are the best placed party to beat Reform, which, statistically, could be seen as correct due to the Conservatives making the most gains from Reform out of any party.

Lian Pizzey - Green Party of England and Wales

Cllr Pizzey was the last councillor to respond to my email, he wrote a large amount of opinion, which I appreciate greatly, Pizzey wrote so much that I will break it down as a complete opinion piece rather than just copy and pasting it over.

Pizzey believes that discontent with Reform comes around from local issues with candidates, such as the local councillor not showing up to meetings or doing anything in the local area, and was described as being "unfit" to be a councillor, the anti-Reform vote was also apparently driven by a response to the Derbyshire Reform administration closing down care homes and adult education centres.

Pizzey's joy around being elected was apparently not for himself, but instead for the joy that everyone who had helped him win the seat must've felt at the result, as well as a feeling of responsibility to fulfil his role, Pizzey said "getting elected is the start not the end"

To defeat Reform, Cllr Pizzey believes that the strategy hasn't changed, the campaign should display your candidates viability as a councillor, as the local Greens had maintained a strong presence in the area by consistently remaining on doorsteps to keep the Green Party in the mind of voters and point out the issues of the Reform administration, but he also admits that the Greens have not done enough in this way to spread their influence outside of their most active zones, leaving many feeling as though they are unviable.

Pizzey says that the areas was always Green VS Reform, and therefore he didn't give mind to other candidates winning.

On the topic of dangerous parties, Pizzey doesn't believe there are any, instead believing Reform to be a party which just doesn't hold the answers and sweeps up the dissatisfied voters in the country, mostly driven by annoyance with the establishment.

Pizzey believes that Reform's case of incredible polarisation between being idolised by their supporters and hated by everyone else, which will lead to less and less Reform wins as more parties and people vote tactically, with Cllr Pizzey saying that Labour, Lib Dem and even Conservative voters tactically voting Green to get Reform out of the seat, but Pizzey also believes that due to Reform's performance governing the council will lead to them losing harder in 2027.

Concluding!

I thank the three councillors for their repsonses and varying opinions, and how professionally and kindly they carried themself in conversation.

Writen by Harry Vilday, Amateur Journalist

note: these opinions were asked late 2025/early 2026 and therefore may not still be reflected by the individuals.