New poll shows huge surge in support for Reform UK in Coventry

[dutchman]

A new poll has found a surge of support in Coventry for Reform UK as voters cite cost of living pressures among their biggest concerns



A recent MRP poll has shown sustained backing for Reform UK in the West Midlands, with food and energy costs emerging as the top concerns for voters in the region in 2026. The research, conducted by Electoral Calculus and national communications agency PLMR, found that 60% of West Midlands voters ranked food bills as a key factor influencing their voting intentions, while 56% placed energy bills at the top of their list.

The poll also revealed a rare consensus across political lines, with these issues outweighing all other cost of living pressures for most voters. This reflects a perceived need for the Government to enhance the affordability of everyday essentials to regain support.

Other major concerns for voters included taxation (31%), rent and housing costs (27%), wages and income support (22%), and fuel and transport costs (17%).

Voting intention remains fragmented, with voters increasingly open to rethinking long-standing allegiances due to dissatisfaction with the current political landscape. The poll places Reform UK at 31% of the national vote, making it the largest party and on track to secure 335 seats, enough to form a small overall majority if a general election were held now.

On 17% and with just 41 seats, Reform's popularity is particularly strong in the West Midlands. The party is projected to secure 27 out of the 39 parliamentary seats across Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull, Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, making an impressive gain of 23 seats from Labour and four from the Conservatives.

Rebecca Langton, PLMR Board Director and Head of PLMR Midlands, commented: "Our latest poll indicates that cost of living pressures and the way voters in the West Midlands feel about their personal finances is of paramount importance and is swaying how they judge the UK's political system.

"Voters in the region are increasingly being driven by money worries and that is translating into an unprecedented and uncertain political landscape. The electorate's patience with the natural order in British politics is wearing thin.

"Never has it been so important for the Government, and indeed all political parties, to focus on practical action that will ease the cost of living burden on households across the region and the country as a whole. Parties must act now to cut through on this issue and rebuild trust with ever sceptical voters."

Martin Baxter, founder of Electoral Calculus, said: "Labour is suffering double trouble from the rise of Reform on the right, and the growth of the Greens on the left. But there is still some hope for Labour.

"The newly-launched Your Party is not polling as well as it did in our previous poll just three months ago, and is now down to around 2pc and about four seats. As economic issues, like the cost-of-living, are very important to voters, Labour might also capitalise on the sketchiness of Reform and Green economic plans."

[dutchman]

Coventry election forecasts show close-run battle between Labour and Reform UK



Local election forecasts for Coventry City Council show a close-run battle between Labour and Reform UK for power over the city.

The Pollcheck website projects that Labour will end up with 21 seats, losing 18 of its current number, while Reform will have 19 seats, an increase of 17 over the two it has already.

The two parties would become the main powers in the city if these projections are reflected in the results.

With 54 seats up for grabs, any party securing 28 or more would have overall control. In the projected outcome, Labour would have a majority with 21 seats – not enough for control of the council.

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But with weeks to go before election night and campaigning yet to get underway, there is still time for major shifts in voting patterns to happen before the crucial ballots at the start of next month. Labour would need to win seven more seats and Reform UK an additional nine seats for either party to take over the council.

The Green Party is predicted to gain two more seats for a new total of four, and the Conservatives will lose four seats to end up with six.

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition will gain three seats for a new total of four.

The forecasts suggest Reform UK would win all three seats in the Sherbourne and Bablake wards, and two of the three available seats in Woodlands, Cheylesmore, Tile Hill & Canley, and Wyken, meaning it has power over six wards. The party would also take one of the three seats in Whoberley, Upper Stoke, Henley, Binley & Willenhall, and Radford.

Labour is projected to have control of eight wards. It is forecast to win all three seats in Longford, Lower Stoke, and St Michael's wards, plus two of the three seats in Whoberley, Upper Stoke, Henley, Radford, and one of the three seats in Earlsdon (with the other two won by the Greens).

The Greens would have control in Holbrooks wards by winning two of its three seats, it's predicted. The full set of projections can be found on the Pollcheck website.

The Coventry local election is on Thursday, May 7, with the results announced the next day, May 8.

Every seat in the city is up for grabs after the existing wards were all scrapped and then redrawn to reflect population changes and even out the number of voters in each one.

The candidate with the most votes in their ward will hold their seat for four years, the one with the second highest number of votes will be in place for two years, and the one who comes third will be a ward councillor for one year only with their seat facing a new election in May 2027.