Reform UK wins its first Cumbrian unitary seat

Reform UK has won its first unitary authority councillor in Cumbria after Hazel Edwards secured the Hawcoat and Newbarns seat on Westmorland and Furness Council in a Barrow-in-Furness by-election. Edwards, a former Conservative mayor with 22 years of local political experience, received 1,139 votes—almost twice as many as Labour’s Mike Leach, who got 576. The turnout was 27%, down from 41% in the 2022 local elections, when three Conservative candidates won with a combined 41% of the vote. Edwards also won the Hawcoat seat for Barrow Town Council but faced criticism during her campaign for altered campaign photos. Conservative candidate Marco Fawcett, who came third with 447 votes, acknowledged her experience but noted voter frustration with established parties. He described Reform UK’s local government record as ‘not particularly impressive’ while expressing hope for ‘new blood’ in politics. Next year, Cumbria will hold mayoral elections for the new Cumbria Combined Authority, alongside local elections for Westmorland and Furness and Cumberland Councils. Labour’s Leach vowed to contest the seat again, emphasizing the need to ‘convince people’ to support his party. The by-election reflects growing political shifts in the region, with Reform UK gaining traction amid voter dissatisfaction. Edwards’ victory marks a significant milestone for the party in local government, though challenges remain in converting support into broader influence.