NORWICH — Nigel Farage has intensified his party’s campaign for the May 7 local elections, describing the contests as a critical test for Keir Starmer’s government and a chance for Reform UK to replace the Conservatives as the main party of the right in large parts of England.

Speaking during an intensive day of campaigning that included travel from Heathrow to Norfolk, policy announcements on the cost of living crisis, meetings with candidates and supporters, and a major evening rally in Norwich, Farage positioned the elections as far more than routine council votes. He told reporters and audiences that in many areas the poll would function as a direct verdict on the Prime Minister.

“In much of the country, it’s a referendum on Starmer. It’s vote Reform, get Starmer out,” Farage said. He highlighted the scale of the elections — covering all of Scotland and Wales, all 32 London boroughs, and thousands of seats across the Midlands, North, South and East of England — and noted that the contests in some regions were only proceeding after Reform UK successfully challenged attempts to postpone them through judicial review.

Farage expressed particular optimism about prospects in East Anglia, including Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, traditionally Conservative strongholds. He predicted that on May 8 the political map would look “very different” and said he was “feeling really bullish” about Reform’s ability to make significant gains in these areas. The party is targeting county council seats and has been actively recruiting candidates and local organisers.

During a pub meeting with more than 50 prospective county councillors, Farage delivered an off-the-cuff rallying speech urging them to campaign hard over the next six weeks. He also raised concerns about proposed local government reorganisation, questioning whether the abolition of district councils and the potential dominance of larger urban authorities would disadvantage rural and coastal communities. He called for a proper public debate on the issue.

When asked about challenges on the right, Farage dismissed both Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives and Robert Lowe’s Restore Britain party. He described Badenoch as lacking credibility on issues such as grooming gangs and North Sea oil and gas, citing her past record in government. He characterised Lowe’s effort as that of “one angry man saying stuff on the internet” and said it did not concern him.

Farage also addressed his relationship with US President Donald Trump, acknowledging that it had drawn comment but arguing that British voters supporting Reform were focused on domestic issues. He stressed the strategic importance of the UK-US relationship for national defence, noting Britain’s limited military capacity and the time it took to deploy a ship to Cyprus. He suggested that his personal connections could be an asset in maintaining ties with Washington.

On the question of defections, Farage set a symbolic deadline of May 7 for Conservative MPs considering joining Reform, while expressing scepticism that many would move before seeing the local election results. He indicated that the party was also in discussions with Labour councillors and former MPs, predicting that Labour might fracture with more left-leaning voters moving to the Greens and traditional, patriotic Labour supporters shifting toward Reform.

At the evening rally in Norwich, Farage told supporters that real radical political change was coming to Britain and that it was “not before time.” He thanked the audience for turning out and emphasised the need for voters to use the ballot box to signal that the two-party system that has dominated for over a century is no longer serving the country.

The day’s events formed part of a broader push by Reform UK ahead of what is expected to be one of the largest sets of local elections in recent years. With nearly five million people eligible to vote in the seats up for election, the results are likely to be interpreted as an early verdict on Starmer’s administration less than two years into its term.

The government has faced mounting criticism on issues ranging from the economy and cost of living pressures to defence, foreign policy and border security — themes that Farage has repeatedly highlighted during his campaign appearances. Reform’s messaging focuses on replacing the established parties with a more radical alternative capable of delivering the scale of change the country requires.

Farage, who has described the campaign schedule as gruelling, said he continues because he believes Britain is “in terrible trouble” and the current parties lack the resolve to address it. He also admitted that he simply enjoys the work. The Reform leader has been on the road extensively, combining policy announcements with direct voter engagement in pubs, high streets and rallies.

Analysts suggest that even modest gains for Reform could have significant symbolic impact, particularly if the party makes inroads into traditional Conservative territory in southern and eastern England. Such results would increase pressure on both major parties and could accelerate speculation about further realignment on the right ahead of the next general election.

As the six-week countdown to polling day continues, Farage’s energetic campaigning style and direct messaging are once again placing Reform at the centre of the political conversation. Whether the local elections deliver the breakthrough he predicts or prove more modest will become clear on May 8, but the tone of his current efforts leaves little doubt about the scale of his ambitions for 2026 and beyond.