Reform UK Poised to Capture Thousands of Council Seats Amid Care Home Closures and Tax Hikes

TL;DR: Reform UK aims to win thousands of council seats this week, even as its local record includes care‑home closures, climate‑policy rollbacks and a near‑4% rise in council tax.

Context Over 5,000 seats across 136 English councils are up for election, marking one of the biggest local contests in recent years. The party’s breakthrough in 2025, when it took control of ten authorities, set the stage for a test of its governing style at the grassroots level.

Key Facts Reform‑led councils have already drawn criticism for shutting eight care homes in Derbyshire, a move described by opponents as a betrayal of local residents. Similar proposals in Lancashire to close five public homes and five day centres were abandoned after strong community push‑back, highlighting internal dissent.

Climate commitments have also been scaled back under Reform control. Net‑zero targets have been removed from policy documents and language on climate action stripped away, aligning with the party’s broader stance that climate policy is an economic burden.

Tax policy tells a comparable story. Nine Reform‑run councils raised Band D council tax for 2026‑27 by an average of 3.94%, slightly below the national average increase of 4.86% but still a regressive hike that hits lower‑income households hardest.

What It Means The upcoming elections will test whether Reform’s populist rhetoric—promising “pro‑workers” policies and tax freezes—can survive scrutiny of its actual governance. The party’s track record suggests a tilt toward deregulation, privatisation and modest tax increases, despite pledges to the contrary. If Reform secures a substantial share of the 5,000 seats, it will gain a platform to extend these policies nationally, potentially reshaping local service delivery, climate strategy and fiscal pressure on households.

Watch for post‑election statements from Reform leaders on how they will reconcile their electoral promises with the fiscal realities revealed by recent council tax hikes and social‑care decisions.