Reform UK record historic victory at Mark Hall By-election
Elections / Thu 1st May 2025 at 11:25pm
REFORM UK have had their first ever councillor elected in Harlow following a by-election in Mark Hall.
Paul Jago won by a majority of 81.
Labour, who were defending the seat were pushed into third place.
Harlow Council is now:
Conservative: 17
Labour: 15
Reform UK: 1
Result
Paul Jago: Reform UK: 505
John Steer: Conservative Party: 424
Christine Gallacher: Labour Party: 350
Julie Taylor: Green Party: 223
Lesley Rideout: Liberal Democrat: 56
Marian Forstner UKIP: 14
Turnout: 27.2%
Majority: 81
Interview with Paul Jago
This was a by-election, brought on due to Labour councillor Aiden O’Dell moving away.
There are no District Council elections this year as it is what the call a “fallow year”. In Harlow, there are three years of elections, elected 11 councillors each year.
The next set of elections may be May 2026 but there is council re-organisation. If, in theory, Harlow is merged with Uttlesford and Epping Forest to become West Essex, there is an argument against holding elections in 2026, if it means those councillors will only be in their seats for one year.
David Forman
2025-05-01 23:40:32
So much for the Editor's "Labour Hold" prediction. I now have to go and tap dance down the street at Labour coming third. This has made my day.
David Forman
2025-05-01 23:44:34
I wonder what excuses Chris Vince will try and peddle?
Adam T
2025-05-02 00:25:27
People.are fed up of the current political classes in lib lab con green etc. 40 years of destruction of the UK, change is coming and it is going to be very interesting to watch.
Dan Long
2025-05-02 05:54:21
Well done Paul. I bet we would of took council over all if these cowards didn't deny us residents here in Harlow the right to a local election. I would of stood alongside you and reform UK.
RayMo
2025-05-02 06:30:08
....and breath
AB
2025-05-02 06:45:30
Further evidence that an educational qualification should be required to be allowed to vote.
gary roberts
2025-05-02 07:16:14
A victory yes, but on a 27.2% turnout it says a awful lot about the apathy and relevance given by the electorate in the ward. Unfortunately, I suspect that show will be replicated throughout the town next year.
Nicholas Taylor
2025-05-02 07:23:28
AB throwing insults at other people does no Party any favours. You do not need a qualification to understand the effects of the raising of national Insurance paid by employers, the ending of heating allowance payments, a new hospital delayed for another 10 years, a town centre that looks like a bomb site and the former GSK building standing empty for 10 years etc etc. This country has been trashed by both main political Parties and millions of people voted for Reform in 2024. I am not here to defend Reform but people want to see change and in other parts of the country that is a vote for the Greens or Liberal Democrats
Deborah
2025-05-02 07:42:06
Raymo 😂 This is excellent news, well done reform 🎉. Shame our rights to vote were stripped away. I contacted you Chris Vince about having my rights taken away and you didn't care, shame on you.
Nostradamus
2025-05-02 07:57:27
Remarkable: does anyone bother to look at what policies any party actually has? Reform, like the Tories and Labour parties are all in the pockets of those who seek to bank at Coutts! Millionaires. "The world's your lobster" Jago! Usually boiled alive.
Resident
2025-05-02 08:10:18
This is a strong message to labour and conservatives that people have had enough. They need to start listening to their constituents and doing something about the very real issues people are facing that have been ignored for the last 15 years or so. The low turnout is due to people feeling they have no party to vote for, no one represents them if I'd been able to vote . And the cancellation of local elections has been an attack on democracy, I would have spoiled my paper and said there isn't a single party that represents me or those important to me. It's really annoying that people aren't voting, spoil your paper, record your dissatisfaction. Send a message that these clowns aren't listening and don't represent their constituencies
AB
2025-05-02 08:18:01
Hi Nicholas Taylor, it's a matter of practicality to be educated enough to understand voting, there's no intention to insult. People's are certainly voting against the actions of Labour and Tory governments, but clearly have no understanding of the implications of a fascistic Reform Party in power.
Resident
2025-05-02 08:25:03
AB that's just rude. Desperate and frustrated people turn to desperate measures. This is only a local vote but it's sending a message. I do fear and believe it is indicative of how future elections and possibly general election will go, unless the main parties start listening. That's if we're allowed to vote next time, which appears to be questionable. That in itself shows the arrogance and contempt they hold for their constituents.
jarrett
2025-05-02 08:31:43
Well done Paul and Reform.
Sodthisforalark
2025-05-02 08:32:50
I understand the Reform vote, but people are voting for a very unkind party, one that creates divide and runs on hatred. It also wants to get rid of the NHS! It's a sad day, I hope that the two main parties stop on the path they are on and actually listen to the voter. They've well and truly had enough of their incompetence.
Scott Hegley
2025-05-02 08:49:14
Congratulations to Paul, a landmark win for ReformUK and more importantly for Mark Hall residents tired of feeling they are sidelined as London councils house their overspill in their neighbourhoods, wacky transport schemes that punish motorists, a council busy hanging hundreds of £millions in debt around their necks (that they will have to repay) and who feel taken for granted by the complacency of both Con and Lab. Last night's result is democracy working for ordinary people.
Resident
2025-05-02 08:53:11
If you think reform is the answer you need your head wobbled. But we can only hope the message is getting across that something has got to change
Anon
2025-05-02 09:03:50
Resident, what message are you actually sending by spoiling your paper? It's not recorded when someone states 'I don't like any of the parties, nobody is listening to me or looking out for me' etc. It goes down as a spoilt vote. Unless >50% of votes were spoilt, it's a meaningless action. That said, I fully support your democratic right to do that, I just don't see the point. Get involved yourself. The saying 'if you want to change the world, start with yourself', is paraphrased from Ghandi. I'm not saying you need to change, but more the point of don't leave it to others. Lastly, congratulations Reform, absolutely fantastic news. There will be positive change at the next General Election, I just fear what the next 4 years brings, reneging on BREXIT for starters.
Resident
2025-05-02 09:06:53
Anon even a spoiled paper would be recorded as turning out to vote. High numbers of people turning out to vote, but poor results for each party surely be a strong message? People are getting involved, people are writing to their MPs, protesting, signing petitions against policies they don't agree with and so on. People have tried to get involved and get things changed but they're being ignored.
Keith Wilkinson
2025-05-02 09:11:19
Dear me, there are some fibs around. Divisive? Non-divisive politics exist, but only in a one Party state. And not that old (rotten!) chesnut about policies! In the June 2024 Contract, still on the Reform UK website (worth a look for anyone interested) there are 116 policy lines in 20 Major Policy Areas, and none show hatred.
Robert J
2025-05-02 09:13:50
Farage is not a fan of the NHS and favours an American system where if you can't afford a decent level of health care hard luck. Whatever party is in power they get given a bloody nose in these very low turn out rather meaningless (in the broad scheme of things) elections. Reform have simply matched the result UKIP got years ago.
Resident
2025-05-02 09:16:36
More to the point anon, if the 70+% of people who didn't vote chose to spoil their papers instead, then that's 70% spoiled papers. Nit such a waste of time
Seamus
2025-05-02 09:28:30
AB you said "Further evidence that an educational qualification should be required to be allowed to vote." and yet, most of Labour, Conservative's and Lib dem mp's are university educated and yet none of their degree's seem to be in common sense. Intellect is no guarranty of intelligence. Robert J, the American health care claim isn't entirely correct. I do recall seeing a reform think tank saying in 2023, "We need to shut down NHS England, redistribute the powers back to the local authorities and involve the private sector more to run alongside the NHS". Now you'll forgive me but isn't that what the current Labour health minister Wes Streeting has just done? It would seem Labour must be reading reforms website's for ideas.
Henry H
2025-05-02 09:36:54
People need to open their eyes to what they are voting for when they vote Reform,it is Fascism under a fancy name,like Oswald Mosely beforehim Farage is nothing but a self serving snake oil salesman on a power trip,be very careful what you vote for folks!
Seamus
2025-05-02 10:06:41
Henry come on now. I often wonder when people throw around terms like Facist's or Nazi's if those people really know the meaning of the word. In today's confusing politics it's often inferred that unless you vote Labour, Lib Dems or Greens then you must be far right which highlights the desperation of those three parties. Starmer in recent months has tried to paint himself as a Churchill style leader despite the truth being he's more like Chamberlain. Think not of the success of Reform but why the people feel conventional politicians in conventional political parties have failed them by not listening to the people. Our own mp is the perfect example of this.
Nick
2025-05-02 10:11:36
Those of us with long memories will recall the Farage-led UKIP gaining five seats on Harlow Council in 2014, off a 34.3% share of the vote. By 2015, they were down to just two seats, and three years later they were gone entirely. So, congratulations to Paul Jago - I wish you all the enduring success of your UKIP predecessors.
lostinthemiddle
2025-05-02 10:50:37
I bet those who in the last year, mainly Labour, who complained about the boundary changes in Harlow and lack of elections are breathing a sharp sigh of relief as it would have been highly likely we'd have more Reform if not a fully Reform council. We're no longer in times of a two party system and the council, and indeed all politicians of Harlow, have to take it seriously now. That means stop fighting each other. I think we all know how likely that is to happen...
NB
2025-05-02 11:07:15
Well done Reform. We all want the NHS scrapped. Who needs Human Rights! Only snowflakes are frightened of a bit of torture. What this country is crying out for is millionaire leaders who will make sure wealth protection is their top priority. Pip pip
Paul
2025-05-02 12:56:50
Funny how the most biggotted views come from those accusing others of being fascists. Seamus is spot on
Fjmdms
2025-05-02 12:59:43
Not surprising, people in Harlow are some of the least intelligent in the country
Janice
2025-05-02 15:10:06
AB – those voting reform might now just be some hotchpotch coalition the elderly, the parochial and the left-behind, but just look to Germany where the disaffected youth have joined that coalition. If many more become disenchanted with this lot then we could be in for some rough times ahead. Just think back to that shameful fest with Starmer in the Oval Office. We have a leader who has deferred to Trump, not for the good of the country, but so that the coward avoids the insults that Trump hands out to braver individuals like the Canadian PM or the London Mayor. I guess with our qualifications we realize we were conned by Labour.
Simon
2025-05-02 15:45:34
It’s wild how people still fall for the same old routine: a guy tells you what you want to hear (like Trump), delivers nothing (like Trump), and blames everyone else when it all goes wrong (again—like Trump). Farage is just recycling a classic playbook: offer oversimplified solutions to complex issues, create a common enemy, and stoke outrage over how your taxes are spent. But here’s a thought—look up how much tax avoidance costs us compared to immigration. Spoiler: it’s not even close. And while you're at it, check out how the ultra-wealthy dodge taxes… Richard Tice ring any bells?
Guy Flegman
2025-05-02 15:57:46
Vote for me and I will make all your dreams come true. Nothing changes.
Realist
2025-05-02 16:18:50
Congratulations to the reform candidate on your historic win in the Mark Hall ward, ignore all those persons, who are throwing there toys out of the pram, because who they voted for didn’t win, to those persons, your witnessing democracy in action, get over yourselves. You will water down your beer if you keep crying in it. Note if things don’t change they stay as they are, or is that what you want.
defund politics
2025-05-02 17:26:51
Defund the lot of them
HenryB75
2025-05-02 18:02:20
Anyone right of Corbyn is a right wing extremist for a lot of angry and intolerant lefties. Tissues are available in many shops to dry your tears.
Henry H
2025-05-02 18:11:35
Seamus what planet do you live on if you don’t recognize Farage and Reform as far right,at 74 I think I quite understand politics and see history repeating itself through populist nonsense,you can’t possibly believe Nigel Farage is a serious politician,he has just declared 11 jobs outside parliament for Gods sake,the mans a charlatan
Kim
2025-05-02 19:30:40
We were denied a vote, shameful.
Seamus
2025-05-02 23:35:27
Henry H, it would seem many people today would disagree with your characterisation of far right. Populism in it's most basic form refers to popular, as demonstrated by reform on the last two days of elections. Unpopular would explain the current three party parties losses. I'd love to see the 11 jobs you claim and just how many of them are simply promoting Reform such as on X, facebook, telegraph and you tube. Conventional politics by the three conventional parties has decimated the trust people have in their parties and the systems they operate in. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Instead of attacking Reforms sucess Harry, why not look at the three convential parties and ask why have they failed the people so badly and so often?
Ted
2025-05-03 07:54:26
Paul Jago does not impress me . I didn't think he come across very well when interviewed by Your Harlow.
Voteforme
2025-05-03 09:35:33
Does anyone really believe people voting for Reform do so for any reason other than immigration.
abbie
2025-05-03 10:36:31
Yes Voteforme - They do so out of BITTERNESS and a want to break things that they don't see that they benefit from.
Tony
2025-05-03 11:51:18
As l have said before beware off wot you wish for people though there would be change under labour government now most people are worse off. Local elections should be about local issues this vote is about imagration don't fool yourself people if Labour won't to get back in next general election they need to take note because they have done well on this issue even though they said they could do better if there is no deterent it's not going to slow down it's never going to stop
jarrett
2025-05-03 12:36:41
Tony, when you say they have done well on this issue i read it that you are talking about immigration? if you think 10,000 so far this year is doing well i think you should give your head a wobble.
Jennifer Steadman
2025-05-04 09:51:17
I spoke to someone who voted for Reform & asked them what drove their decision? They replied 'immigration innit' Im looking forward to hearing how the Mark Hall Reform councillor plans to tackle the Countries immigration situation within the ward of Mark Hall ward alongside issues such as pot holes, neighbour disputes & over grown bushes etc.
Marie
2025-05-05 09:29:47
Reform ✔️✔️👍🏼👍🏼💯%✔️✔️✔️✔️
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