Key Points
- Reform UK won control of Essex County Council in the 2026 local elections, taking 53 of 78 seats and ending decades of Conservative dominance.
- The party also won all eight seats in Tendring, strengthening its position in coastal Essex.
- Voter turnout across Essex reached 43.6 per cent, described as the highest in decades.
- Residents in Clacton gave mixed reactions, with some welcoming Reform’s win and others saying the town still needs better services and investment.
- Local concerns raised by residents included immigration, the NHS, bus services, public services, council housing, business support and help for veterans and pensioners.
- The comments came from residents including Adrian Inhouse, Ian Pearson, Stephen Kates, Sue Kates, Damien Mahon and Steve Murray.
United Kingdom (Britain Today News) May 16, 2026 – Reform UK’s sweeping victory in Essex has prompted a wave of sharply divided reactions in Clacton, where residents voiced support, frustration and scepticism after the party took control of Essex County Council and won all eight seats in Tendring.
Why did Reform UK’s Essex win matter?
The county council elections on 7 May 2026 marked a major political shift in Essex, with Reform UK taking 53 of the authority’s 78 seats and ending long-standing Conservative control. The result was one of the party’s strongest performances anywhere in the country and was part of a wider regional surge that also saw gains in Sunderland, Suffolk and Havering. The scale of the win made the outcome a talking point not just for party politics, but for what voters in places like Clacton now expect to see on the ground.
What did Clacton residents say?
Several residents welcomed the result and tied their support to migration, border control and a desire for change. Adrian Inhouse, 57, a window cleaner living in Clacton, said:
“I was absolutely satisfied with the election results — Reform won all the seats in Tendring, and I’m very happy about that.”
He added:
“I voted for change, and the changes I’d now like to see are better support for small businesses, action on immigration and benefits issues, and stronger investment in national defence. Everything Reform have said they’ll do.”
Ian Pearson, 67, took a different view and said he was “not majorly thrilled” about Reform winning all eight seats in Tendring. He argued that Clacton was already doing well, especially for tourism and local businesses, but said public services needed improvement, including a new library and more reliable buses. His comments showed that even among residents living in the same town, the election result has not produced a single shared mood.
How did older voters react?
Stephen Kates, 68, said he was pleased with Reform’s victory in Essex County Council because he wanted stronger border control, NHS improvements and more help for people who have paid into the system all their lives. He said:
“I’ve worked for 50 years, paid into my pension, and I believe people who contribute should feel supported and valued.”
He also highlighted the issue of veteran homelessness, saying that former servicemen should not be left without a home in 2026.
His wife, Sue Kates, 79, echoed that view and said she was “absolutely over the moon” with Reform’s success in Tendring and across Essex. She said:
“We need to stop the boats.”
She also argued that too many young people were struggling to find work, while basic services had become “terrible”, adding that getting a doctor’s appointment was now a “nightmare”. Her remarks reflected a wider sense among some older voters that public services have declined while ordinary taxpayers have carried the burden for years.
What concerns did younger voters raise?
Not everyone in Clacton shared the enthusiasm. Damien Mahon, 23, said he was “not really pleased” that Reform won all the seats in Tendring and Essex County Council, although he accepted that people wanted change. He said the priority should now be more investment in the town, especially council housing and better businesses. He also pointed to gaps in the local high street, saying there were not enough useful shops and not enough variety to encourage people to spend time in the area.
His comments pointed to a different kind of frustration from the one voiced by older residents. Rather than focusing on borders and benefits, he stressed the need for regeneration, opportunity and a more active town centre. That contrast underlines how Reform’s win has been received through very different generational lenses in the same community.
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What about local services?
Steve Murray, 72, living in Holland-on-Sea, said Reform winning all eight seats in Tendring was “completely expected”. He said one of his main local concerns was bus services, which he believes have worsened after route changes introduced about a year ago. He said:
“We used to have buses running every half hour, and I’d like to see those proper services restored.”
He also warned that some bus stops had become unsafe, pointing to the Number 9 route into Clacton where passengers allegedly have to step out into traffic because there is no proper bus stop. Beyond local transport, he said he wanted reforms to the benefits system, a stronger economy and better control of migration. The comments show that even among voters broadly sympathetic to Reform, the success is being measured against very practical local expectations.
What did the result say about Essex?
The Essex result is significant because it ended decades of Conservative dominance at county level and gave Reform one of its clearest victories in the country. Tendring’s full set of eight divisions was also taken by the party, reinforcing its strength in coastal communities where migration, the cost of living and pressure on public services remain central concerns. With turnout at 43.6 per cent, voters turned out in unusually strong numbers for a local election, suggesting the contest carried real weight for residents.
The mix of quoted reactions also shows that the Reform vote is not built on a single issue alone. For some residents, immigration and border control were decisive. For others, the focus was on buses, libraries, healthcare, jobs, housing and support for working people, pensioners and veterans.
Why does Clacton matter now?
Clacton has become symbolically important in the Reform story, and the local reaction suggests the party is now being judged on delivery rather than protest. Residents who welcomed the win want action on immigration, jobs and public money being directed towards people they believe have contributed most to society. Those less convinced want practical improvements that can be felt in daily life, from reliable transport to stronger local services and investment in the town.
