Farage was inspirational in historic Reform win in Thurrock says local leader

By Naomi Greenaway - Local Democracy Reporting Service 9th May 2026

Local News by Naomi Greenaway - Local Democracy Reporting Service 9th May 2026 2

From Tory boy to victorious Reform group leader - Alex Anderson pays tribute to party inspiration

FOLLOWING the declaration of results and a landslide win that saw Reform UK take all but four of the 49 seats in Thurrock, the party's local leader paid tribute to Nigel Farage.

Cllr Alex Anderson, a former Tory who crossed the council floor to sit as an independent before joining Reform in September 2024, said the scale of the victory exceeded even the party's expectations.

"Obviously we are very pleased," he said. "We were predicting a good night in Thurrock, but 45 out of 49 is more than good – so we are very happy.

"We've had a fantastic set of candidates out knocking on doors, engaging with residents and having those conversations, and I think the result tonight shows that.

"It's also true that Nigel Farage MP is very popular here in Thurrock. People really like him. He's been down and campaigned with us, and that's helped get us over the line."

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Funny, I never got a phone call and I am Telephone Preference Service, the toothless watchdog. I did get a personalised letter, which was better than absolutely nothing from all the other parties, and the only time I have been canvassed was by a group of young Tories in the 1970s, and we did get a political debate going in the street about 10 years ago. It was a middle aged socialist training a young woman from the London School of Economics (like Mick Jagger).. My rule is to vote for a “rate payer’s” candidate if there is one, failing that the one that will come second. Because I don’t want the councillor to think they have a job for life. Recently I have been voting for the spoiled ballot party, as Thurrock is ruled by “receivers and managers” imposed from central government and imported from Chelmsford.
(Where are the statistics of spoiled ballots and percentage turnouts for Thurrock wards.

You'd have to say they blitzed Thurrock for these elections, with multiple visits, mailshots & phone calls (annoyingly in my case as although I told them I was TPS registered & didn't want them ringing me again they just kept ringing). I don't know if there's limits on spending for these elections but they must have spent a fortune on stamps alone.