Reform UK have 'smashed it' in the Midlands, deputy leader Richard Tice says
Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice has arrived at the Birmingham City Council election count to celebrate his party's gains there.
Final results aren't expected until after 6pm but Tice has said the party “absolutely smashed it” in other areas of the West Midlands, including Newcastle-under-Lyme and Tamworth.
Newcastle-under-Lyme was the party's first council win of these local elections, and in Tamworth the council went to no overall control.
Speaking to ITV News on his confidence at taking Birmingham Tice said, "there's a long way to go, it's very tight, every individual declaration is tense, it's exciting, nerve-wracking" but said there is a "turquoise wave which is cascading through the West Midlands."
He referred to Reform UK’s strong showing in parts of Staffordshire, a year after it won control of the county council, saying “Voters are doubling down and saying thank you very much Reform councils for what you’ve done so far.”
Since Reform UK took control of Staffordshire County Council, two councillors have been forced to resign over racism allegations.
He added that the results already in in the region amounted to voters saying “yes, we are going to give you an extra chance to do even better”.
A Labour source in Birmingham has told our political reporter Lewis Warner, “We always knew the elections in Birmingham would be tough, and the combination of local issues and the wider national picture is making for a very difficult set of results."
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