REFORM were always likely to do well in Barnsley’s local elections but very few could have predicted their total dominance and Labour’s capitulation which led to a historic majority victory for Nigel Farage’s party.
Election polls had predicted 37 seats for Reform - a number that seemed somewhat ambitious.
But the reality was even worse for the Labour Party who lost a huge 35 seats while Reform romped to a massive 42 seats in the town hall.
Both parties have admitted that the poor feeling around Prime Minister Keir Starmer has led to this result, though Reform say that local issues were also at the forefront of local’s mind when they were entering the polling booths.
Calls have now been made for Starmer to resign because some good local councillors have lost their jobs, seemingly down to his leadership.
It’s not yet known whether that will be the case but one thing is for certain if Labour are to ever to pull back their staunch local support here in Barnsley - something needs to change in central government.
But for as much as it was disastrous for Labour, it was incredible for Reform.
That is the story locally - they have taken over the town hall after more than 50 years of Labour control.
Farage admitted he wasn’t as confident as some for a majority when he arrived in the town last month and he must have been watching on Friday in amazement.
Local Reform chairman Edward Dillingham told the Chronicle this is their chance to deliver - and the result was at the top end of his own prediction.
He said: "I'm buzzing - proper buzzing with how we've done.
"It's the top end of what I'd have hoped for.
"And the fact that we did it with a clean campaign - because I didn't want to get into gutter politics - is bang on.
"All the candidates, even if they win or lose, they've worked their backsides off to do this.
"They really have.
"You go knocking on doors and it's the same thing - it's Starmer.
"The second one is, obviously, just locally.
"It's that all money gets spent in the town centre.
"There's only so long you can kick locals before they are just are done with you.
"Then put that with Starmer and it's the perfect storm."
It was clear from the start of the count that there was going to be a momentous change coming.
The mood from Labour - and some Lib Dems - was grim to say the least.
But the first result - Central ward - saw all three Labour councillors re-elected to their seats.
This was followed by Sir Steve Houghton, the former leader, and his Cudworth colleague Joe Hayward also winning in their ward.
But Anita Cherryholme was ousted by Reform candidate Stanley John Bryan and Sir Steve was clearly emotional on the stage and in interviews afterwards accepted that Labour would no longer be in control of the town hall.
And from there, Reform dominated.
Seven straight wards - North East, Athersley and New Lodge, Hoyland Milton, Royston, Dodworth, Stainborough and Tankersley, Dearne South and Monk Bretton - saw three Reform councillors elected.
And from there their lead was unassailable.
That was halted by the Lib Dems won the Kingstone and Darton East wards, before Reform took over control of Dearne North.
Penistone East - once a Tory stronghold but in recent years has turned red - was interesting as Councillor Alex Burnett received more than 2,000 votes and Frances Nixon was elected for Labour for the first time.
But John Roberts lost his seat and was replaced by Kay Hughes of Reform.
Darfield and Great Houghton, then Stairfoot, also turned turquoise.
The latter - which included chairman Dillingham and former Barnsley Independent Group councillor Andrew Gillis - saw Reform reach the needed 32 seats for a majority and cheers were incredibly loud from the crowd as deputy returning officer Wendy Popplewell announced the results.
From the get-go it was coming but it seemed written in the stars that it would happen during the chairman's seat announcement.
Old Town then turned fully Labour - after former councillor Clive Pickering had defected to the Lib Dems - with Brandon Green the newly-elected Labour member.
Something must be said that the only two areas to be fully controlled by Labour are the two closest to the town centre.
No-one can deny the transformation of the town centre but many clearly feel it has been prioritised over other areas of the town.
The Rockingham and Worsbrough wards saw two independent councillors - Jake Lodge and Andy Wray - re-elected alongside two Reform candidates.
It shows that being a good councillor, getting out on the streets and listening to residents does pay off and they were well worth their re-election given their work across their patches since being appointed.
James Higginbottom was re-elected in Wombwell alongside Theresa and Andy Arnold - with the Labour Party avoiding another huge loss of a highly-thought of and ambitious member.
The last ward of Friday night - Darton West - saw numerous recounts as cabinet member Trevor Cave lost his seat to three Reform councillors by just six votes.
Gone are the days where people can say 'put a red rosette on anything and people will vote for it'.
In fact, the only members of the previous cabinet that remain are Janine Moyes, Steve Houghton, Jo Newing and James Higginbottom - with big names such as deputy leader Caroline Makinson and Kevin Osborne losing their seats.
The total turnout for the election was 37.25 per cent, dwarfing the 24 per cent turnout back in May 2024.
Many issues – some of which national – have been used as the reasoning for the huge uptake in voters.
But there’s no doubt that the Reform Party locally managed to mobilise their supporters to vote on polling day.
The final ward of the town - Penistone West - was not announced until Saturday, more than 24 hours after the count began due to numerous recounts.
And it was certainly a nail-biter.
Just three votes separated third from fifth – as two Lib Dems were elected and one candidate from Reform were elected.
After conceding the election, Sir Steve told the Chronicle: ""I'm pleased that Joe and myself got elected but absolutely devastated Anita didn't, she's a fantastic councillor.
"I hope she can come back another day because she's a real loss to the people of Cudworth.
"When we've talked to people all they said to us is, 'oh you're doing a great job as a council but we're not voting for you'.
"Why is that? Keir Starmer, the government et al.
"And this year the local elections have been more about government policy nationally than they've ever been locally than any time I've ever seen.
"So Reform played that card very cleverly but the government's got to recognise the discontent that there is in many communities across Britain."
He admits it has been the most difficult election he has ever been a part of.
"This has been the most difficult, in the past we've always managed to maintain a majority, we haven't managed to do that today. "There's going to be a big change.
"We have to respect that, people have voted for that, but nonetheless it is going to be hard to take for some of our members who have worked so hard."
He said a joint approach with Reform is what's needed moving forward.
"We will work with anyone for a positive agenda for Barnsley and the opportunities that are still to come that are in the pipeline, we mustn't lose those.
"So if Reform want to continue with that, they'll get our support.
"Alternatively, if they want to go down a different path, then they'll find us constructively challenging some of that."
Steve has been the leader of the council since 1996 and admits it will be difficult to take a step back.
He said: "It's going to be really difficult, I've got to empty the office on Monday morning, so there will be lots of memories in there.
"But in the end you have to respect the democratic process, whatever reasons behind it, that's now on its way for change.
"We'll respect that and do our new jobs to the best we can.”
The make-up of the town hall has now completely changed.
Reform have 42 seats, Labour - now the official opposition - 11, Lib Dems eight and there are two independents.
The town now has no Conservative councillors after Robert Barnard lost his seat.
More analysis and interviews can be found in next Friday's Chronicle.
