Revealing new polling by JL Partners shows that Reform UK would have made sweeping gains in Cheltenham this May, where elections are due to be cancelled.
If the elections were to go ahead in Cheltenham, Reform would win 23 per cent of the vote, the Conservatives 20 per cent and Labour 16 per cent.
In total, Reform UK would have won in 20 councils where elections are now set to be cancelled.
The data also shows that 82 per cent of voters in areas where they are being denied their democratic right believe those elections should go ahead.
Despite the Local Government Secretary’s deluded claim that voters would support cancelling what he described as “pointless elections”, the public clearly disagrees.
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of those polled say it is unacceptable to delay long-planned local elections in order to free up capacity for local government reorganisation.
Further polling reveals that if there were a general election tomorrow, Reform leads on 30 per cent, a 10-point advantage, with the Conservatives and Labour trailing on 20 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.
James Johnson, the co-founder of JL Partners, told the Telegraph: “This poll shows Reform was set to sweep the board at the local elections in these councils.”
“As with last year, Reform was set for a historic victory – at the expense of both the Tories and Labour.
“Regardless of party, voters are furious when they hear about election cancellations: that 82 per cent to 5 per cent margin is one of the biggest I’ve seen in modern polling.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “This poll proves that the establishment is cancelling local elections in Cheltenham because they know Reform could win them. Denying elections is the disgraceful behaviour of a banana republic. Reform UK has launched a judicial review against this abuse of power by the government.”