Lifelong Labour voters in Ashton-under-Lyne are abandoning their party to support Reform UK during the 2026 local elections [1].

This shift in a traditional Labour stronghold in Greater Manchester suggests a growing disconnect between the party leadership and its core working-class base. If these trends persist, the party faces a significant risk of losing influence in regions that historically provided its most reliable electoral support.

Residents said the decision to switch parties stems from broken promises regarding economic prosperity and immigration [1]. Voters said they feel unheard by the party and expressed that they are financially worse off under current policies [1].

Additional tension has surfaced regarding tax policy. Some voters are reacting to a controversy involving stamp duty and Angela Rayner (Labour) [2]. This dispute over property taxes has further alienated residents who feel the party has mishandled its approach to taxation, and fairness [2].

Labour figures, including Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham (Labour), have been identified in the region as the party attempts to manage the fallout from these grievances [1], [2]. The movement toward Reform UK represents a broader trend of "anything but Labour" sentiment among a demographic that previously viewed the party as its only political home [1].

Reform UK has capitalized on these frustrations by focusing on the same issues—immigration and economic stagnation—that the former Labour supporters cite as their primary reasons for leaving [1]. The local elections in 2026 [1] are now serving as a flashpoint for this ideological realignment in the North of England.

“Lifelong Labour voters in Ashton-under-Lyne are abandoning their party to support Reform UK.”

The migration of voters from Labour to Reform UK in Greater Manchester indicates a volatility in the 'Red Wall' areas. By blending economic grievances with immigration concerns and specific tax disputes, Reform UK is successfully positioning itself as an alternative for working-class voters who no longer feel the Labour Party represents their financial interests or cultural values.