Key Points
- Labour urged to stay alert: Dominic Twomey, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, warns Labour must not be complacent about Reform UK’s rising support in London.
- YouGov poll shows shift: Latest YouGov national polling places Reform UK one point ahead of Labour in voting intentions.
- Historical concerns: Twomey recalls Labour’s past battle against the BNP’s rise in Barking and Dagenham in 2006, urging proactive engagement with voters.
- Reform UK’s response: London Assembly member Alex Wilson dismisses BNP comparisons as “ridiculous”, saying Nigel Farage did more than anyone to stop BNP’s rise.
- Criticism of London Mayor: Wilson claims Sadiq Khan is “focused on diversity officers and mean tweets” rather than tackling real issues.
- Twomey’s support for Starmer: Twomey backs Sir Keir Starmer, saying he is “on the path to improve the country”, but stresses the need to take political challenges seriously.
- Upcoming election: Twomey will face his first council election as leader in May 2025.
Labour Leader Warns of Reform UK’s Growing Support in London
Labour’s Dominic Twomey, leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, has warned that the party must not be complacent about the rising popularity of Reform UK in the capital. His comments follow a YouGov national poll that placed Nigel Farage’s party one point ahead of Labour in voting intentions.
Why is Labour concerned about Reform UK’s rise?
Speaking to BBC Radio London’s “Meet the Leader”, Twomey referenced Labour’s past battle against the BNP in Barking and Dagenham in 2006, when the far-right party won 12 council seats. He urged Labour to stay engaged with voters to prevent history from repeating itself. “Do not become complacent. Do not allow a void to come where you don’t talk to your residents, because someone will fill it.” – Dominic Twomey
How has Reform UK responded to Labour’s concerns?
Reform UK’s London Assembly member Alex Wilson rejected any comparison between his party and the BNP, calling it “ridiculous”. “Nobody in frontline politics has done more to destroy the rise of the BNP than Nigel Farage.” – Alex Wilson
Wilson also criticised London Mayor Sadiq Khan, claiming he is more focused on “diversity officers and mean tweets” than addressing real issues affecting Londoners.
Is Keir Starmer addressing the challenge?
Twomey expressed support for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, saying he is “on the path to improve the country”. However, he emphasised that Labour must remain vigilant and not assume electoral dominance.
“Never be complacent ever, ever. Once you start to be complacent and think that that sort of change can’t happen, is when it happens.”
What happens next?
With Reform UK gaining traction, Labour faces a significant political challenge in some areas of London. Twomey himself will contest his first council election as leader in May 2025, a test of whether Labour can maintain its stronghold in Barking and Dagenham.
