Reform UK secured all eight seats in the Tendring district during the local elections held on 7 May 2026, marking a major change in local representation. This result is part of a wider shift that saw the party take overall control of Essex County Council, ending 25 years of Conservative leadership.
The election saw high levels of engagement across the area, with overall turnout in Tendring reaching 42 per cent. The Frinton and Walton division recorded the highest local turnout at 51.55 per cent.
Among the notable outcomes, the outgoing leader of the county council, Kevin Bentley, lost his seat to Reform UK candidate Andrew Harding. Additionally, the leader of the Tendring District Council, Neil Stephenson, lost his county council seat to Peter Harris. Harris, who has now been elected as the councillor for Clacton North, also serves as the deputy leader of the Reform UK group on the district council.
The transition follows a significant change in the political landscape of the county. Reform UK, which previously held only one seat on the council, now holds 53. Following the announcement of the results, party leader Nigel Farage stated that the party intends to address resident concerns regarding the direction of local governance.
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