From veteran community organiser Ishtiaq Ahmed, a reflection on the implications for Bradford and north west England after the 7th May 2026 local government elections:
| The fall of my city to the far-right Reform UK is deeply troubling. What worries me even Reform has surged to power in the local elections in our region, virtually decimating Labour in several areas, entirely so in Kirklees, and reducing Labour in Bradford to a distant third place with just 17 councillors, behind the Conservatives on 19 and Reform UK on 29. Reform UK has also taken control of Leeds and Wakefield. In effect, Reform UK has emerged as the unexpected political force dominating much of our region on political agenda that unapologetically targeted and vilified visible minorities in particular immigrant, asylum seekers and refugees communities. The British Muslims have been particularly singled out for the party’s venomous outbursts. It is not simply that Reform UK has won through a democratic contest; it is the scale of the victory, and what it signifies for our region , and more personally, for my Bradford, that is deeply unsettling. [. . .] There is a genuine fear that racism and Islamophobia may become increasingly normalised at grassroots level, creating deeper mistrust and hostility between communities. Those concerns cannot simply be dismissed as political exaggeration; they reflect lived experiences felt by many citizens. [. . .] Yet there are also voices urging perspective and resilience. Reform UK has little experience governing councils, and protest movements often struggle once confronted with the realities of administration and public expectations. Some believe the party may already have reached its electoral high point, while others argue that Bradford’s political balance could shift again within a few years if public dissatisfaction continues. Importantly, many Bradfordians reject the idea that Reform UK speaks for the city as a whole. Across communities, there remain countless residents committed to challenging racism, resisting division, and defending Bradford’s long tradition of coexistence and solidarity. That quieter majority rarely generates headlines, but it remains essential to the city’s future. Source: Ishtiaq Ahmed’s Facebook posting |