'We switched from Labour to Reform as we want change'

When Reform UK leader Nigel Farage went to meet and greet residents in the Barnsley town of Hoyland during the 2024 general election, voters were impressed.

Their enthusiasm showed in last week's local council polls, when his party won all three seats in the Hoyland Milton ward.

Turnout also increased from 25% to 38% in two years.

Barnsley Council was Labour-run for 50 years, but Reform has now taken control and voters are waiting to see what changes the party will bring.

For the first time in 20 years, all 63 council seats in Barnsley were contested and voters could choose up to three candidates on the ballot paper.

In the local florists, Gwen Strange, 70, talks about splitting her vote between the Conservative and Reform candidates.

"I've always voted for Conservative, and Reform are just brilliant around here in Barnsley.

"I was very surprised the council changed from Labour. To be honest, I don't rate Labour at all this year, I'm just not happy with them so I've just gone totally opposite. Labour's let us down this year."

She's hopeful Reform will do well running the authority and has confidence in the new Hoyland councillors.

Graham Swift, 88, believes Labour lost locally because of the national government.

"It's all down to the government, that's the reason they've been taken off their jobs. It's not something that Barnsley lads and lasses have done, it's down to head office. That's the reason they've lost."

He does not want to reveal who he voted for but adds: "Labour are so inept at what they're doing in London that folks said, well we're not having anything to do with that, so to show their displeasure they've obviously voted for a different party which I think will be a disaster.

"The next few years will be horrendous because they'll be undoing all the good that's being done in the past.

"The council has spent millions on the town centre and they've done a good job, there's no question about that, I'm really chuffed about Barnsley town centre."

Barnsley town centre enjoyed footfall of nine million people in 2025 – two million more than the previous year - thanks to the £210m investment in the Glassworks shopping development and other initiatives to make it safer and more attractive to visit.

But there are plenty of voters like Angela Collier, 66, who say all the money has gone into the town while neighbourhood shopping areas have been neglected.

"I voted for Reform, I used to vote Labour but they haven't done much around here in Hoyland as opposed to the town centre and I'm just ready for a change.

"I can't say that I really like Farage, but I like his policies on immigration. In fact, if the Restore party were a bit bigger, I'd probably vote for them."

She says she has her "fingers crossed" Reform will do a good job.

"I think they will, they seem to be more visible as opposed to the Labour councillors who only showed up when it was elections. They didn't seem bothered so hopefully Reform will be."

Roy Holdsworth, 66, had voted Labour since he was 18 but switched to Reform.

"I was a bit disappointed in Labour because they did the opposite of what they said they were going to do.

"I'm an old age pensioner and they were going to do this and that for us but they didn't. I don't think Labour know what they're doing. I'm seeing how things go with Reform, I hope there are better things on the way."

George Deakin, 83, also made a change this year and voted for Reform.

"We're ready for a change, I've been here a long time and I've seen a lot of changes, not always for the best.

"We need to tackle things like immigration. Let's encourage people to come here who want to work but if they don't and they want to get benefits, well it has to be dealt with.

"I'm happy to give Reform a chance. Let's have a change and see what happens, it can't be any worse than what it is."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North