This time last year Reform UK had swept the local elections in England, leaving Westminster stunned by the scale of Nigel Farage’s breakthrough.
What’s different about this year’s round of local elections in England, and devolved government polls in Wales and Scotland, is the lack of shock – Reform’s relentless continued advance has been wholly expected and predictable.
Projections show that a general election based on Thursday’s vote share would lead to a hung parliament, with Reform the largest party, meaning Nigel Farage would very likely be the prime minister.
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Eight tips for
combating loneliness
Ree Young, works for Mind mental health charity as a ‘befriender’ – this means working with people aged 50 and over in the city of Leeds – who may be struggling with social isolation or loneliness.
Young advises these people on how to get social, even when you don’t want to. Here are her tips.
How to combat loneliness
Social isolation affects us all
27%
of adults reported they felt lonely always, often or some of the time in data published by the Office for National Statistics in 2024.
7%
reported that they felt lonely always or often.
How to combat loneliness
Running might not seem like the most appealing hobby, but if you give it a try, you might be surprised (Photo: EMS-FORSTER-PRODUCTIONS/Getty/Digital Vision/ems-forster-productions)
Stay socially active
Check out what’s going on at your local community centre or learn something new to make connections.
Use technology
Look up old friends online, or use video-call features to connect with those who don’t live nearby.
FaceTiming on an iPad or iPhone is a simple method of video calling (Photo: Getty)
Woman learning to knit with friends in cafe – stock photo. (Photo: Compassionate Eye Foundation/David Oxberry/ Getty)
Get creative
Why not learn how to crochet, write short stories, plant a herb garden or play the ukulele in a group?
Adopt a pet
They can provide companionship, a listening ear and a structured routine. They can be good listeners and stroking them can make us feel calmer and more at ease. Even the smallest pets, like fish, can bring us joy and a sense of purpose.
REE YOUNG, BEFRIENDER
(Photo: fotostorm/Getty Images/E+)
How to tackle loneliness
Join a death cafe
They are safe and inclusive spaces for people to be curious about death in a supportive environment.
Portrait of senior male cafe owner at front counter – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Hay fever can be incredibly disruptive (Photo: Science Photo Library/Getty)
Try citizen science
It’s a great way to feel part of a community, while also contributing to worthwhile initiatives.
Explore your faith
Try attending services if spiritual practices are important to you. They can offer strong support networks and open doors to new people.
Caption: Richard Loynes, with the leaning church of Dry Doddington, Nottinghamshire, also known as St James Church. April 14, 2026. // England’s wonkiest church which has a spire which leans more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa is in vital need of ??100,000 repairs to save its future – but have refused to correct the angle of its famous tower. The spire of St James’ Church in the countryside village of Dry Doddington, Lincs., tilts at 5.1 degrees compared to the 3.99 degrees of its Italian counterpart over 1,000 miles away. Villagers consider the Grade II-listed building “Britain’s answer to The Leaning Tower of Pisa” but there are now concerns for its future as it is need of essential repairs. Tourists often travel to snap photos next to the historic tilting place of worship, which has now launched a fundraiser to raise another ??100,000 11 years after it underwent ??100,000 of renovation work to save its tower. The 12th century church was built originally as a ???Chapel of Ease??? for older residents to attend church rather than walking to a neighbouring village. The tower, dating from the 14th century, is believed to have first shifted in the late 19th century and was underpinned in 1918 to prevent it from tilting any further. Church warden Richard Loynes said: “The church is very much part of the village and we’re proud of its uniqueness.??? Photo released 15/04/2026
Photographer: Tom Maddick / SWNS
Provider: Tom Maddick / SWNS
Source: Tom Maddick / SWNS
Seek professional help
If you are unsure what support is available, speak to your GP. Research local charities and find out what services they have to offer, and try accessing local befriending, group or peer-support services.
There is nothing shameful about asking for help.
The Government must prioritise targeted investment in mental health services, preventative programmes to stop people’s health worsening – including public health funding across the North, a report said. (Photo: Alamy/PA)
Female psychiatrist discussing with mid adult woman during therapy session – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
The six reasons your partner might cheat
Cheating is still the number one cause of divorce, and one in five Brits admit to doing it.
But what are the main drivers of infidelity?
‘If she feels unappreciated by me, sex is off the agenda,’ says the reader (Photo: Getty)
Why your partner might cheat
They want a way out
Sex and relationship therapist Cate Campbell says exit affairs are one of the three “big reasons” she sees.
Fear of commitment
This often happens when a person doesn’t feel good about themselves, or have a fear of being found out.
‘Fathers, it seems, are still expected to put work first and family second’ (Photo: Getty Images)
Senior husband and wife having relationship difficulties – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
A mid-life crisis
Transitions like moving house, new jobs or becoming parents makes cheating more common.
Why your partner might cheat
They’re getting too close to a colleague
This dynamic is usually an unhappy man who confides in a woman in a work context, and it switches from a supportive friendship into an affair.
Side view of affectionate happy couple sitting in the cozy cafe. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
‘Although problems with sex are very common, very few people come for help,’ says one GP (Photo: Getty)
They want something new in bed
Desires change – consiously or not and people may believe they want something different, or to experiment.
Elderly woman sitting alone in her living room – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
WHY YOUR PARTNER MAY CHEAT
They feel lonely
Nobody stays the same in a relationship – and if we’re not communicating that to each other, it can be disconnecting.
Susie Masterson, a relationship therapist, says when people feel undervalued, or stretched too thin in day-to-day life, they can look at their relationship and realise it isn’t filling the gaps.
How to recover from an affair
Infidelity doesn’t have to be the end of a relationship
- Psychotherapist Esther Perel says in her book The State of Affairs that affairs can actually save a relationship, by forcing us to address deep-rooted issues and come back stronger.
- Campbell says couples should be having conversations about infidelity and what it means to them.
- “Often it’s not the affair that ends the relationship, but the fallout – and the way it’s managed. Which is why it’s useful to get some therapy if you can,” she adds.
Think you know all the signs of heart problems? Some might be myths rather than fact…
These are the beliefs to be wary of, according to Dr Abdul Mozid, a consultant cardiologist at Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital.
‘Getting out of breath is just a sign of getting older’
Caption: Senior man laying down on the sofa, watching tv and holding the remote control.
Photographer: PicTour Studio
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
- While ageing can contribute, breathlessness is also a common early warning sign of heart disease.
- When the heart cannot pump efficiently, fluid can build up in the lungs, making simple activities difficult.
- If it occurs while laying down, or while doing minimal activity, it should never be ignored.
LIFESTYLE
4 min read
‘Sleep has little effect on the heart’
There are ways to get a better night’s sleep (Photo: Maskot/Getty/Digital Vision/Copyright Maskot Bildbyr?)
Poor or fragmented sleep increases stress hormone levels, raises blood pressure, disrupts glucose metabolism and promotes inflammation — all of which contribute to cardiovascular disease.
Good-quality sleep is not a luxury; it is a pillar of cardiovascular health alongside diet and exercise.
‘Exercise gives you a healthy heart’
You can ‘out-exercise’ metabolic stress
A young Indian woman sits on a couch at home, holding her hand over her heart, grimacing as she feels severe pain in her chest – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
This is not true. A poor diet high in saturated fats, refined sugars and salt promotes high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension, regardless of your activity levels.
Analysis
3 min read
Other heart health myths to ignore
Only “bad” cholesterol matters
While HDL cholesterol may be associated with lower risk in some contexts, it does not provide total immunity to heart problems. Managing LDL levels remains crucial as part of your overall health.
(Photo: Jacob Wackerhausen/Getty).
Midlife depression. Sad upset middle aged woman at home, feeling lonely. Aging anxiety and loneliness concept – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
It’s just anxiety
Women are more likely to present with less “classic” heart attack symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, jaw pain or back discomfort. If symptoms are new or persistent, cardiac issues must be considered.
‘Heart disease is an older person problem’
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in women, yet risk is often underestimated. Symptoms may be subtle and attributed to life stage or stress.
Recognising these unique risk enhancers is vital to earlier diagnosis and prevention.
The older couple has a conflict. Upset mature woman, quarrel with her husband. Relationship crisis – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Caption: BERLIN, GERMANY – AUGUST 13: Symbolic photo on the topic of problems in a relationship. An older woman and an older man are sitting at home on August 13, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo Illustration by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)
Photographer: Thomas Trutschel
Provider: Photothek via Getty Images
Source: Photothek
Fridge or cupboard?
This is your definitive guide on where and how to store your foods at home to maximise the quality and shelf life, from ketchup and butter to nuts and jam.
Where to store the basics
- Keeping butter in the fridge maximises food safety and freshness.
- Ketchup and mayonnaise can be stored in the cupboard but once opened, are best in the fridge.
- Bread shouldn’t be refridgerated due to the starch molecules. A bread bin at room temparture, or an airtight container is best.
LIFESTYLE
6 min read
How and where to store food items
There is a fine line between ripe or matured and spoilt.
Jam
Keeping it in the fridge will help it last longer.
Eggs
Storing them at a constant cool temperature, preferably in the fridge, will keep them safe to eat.
Berries
Keeping them in the fridge slows down mould growth and keeps them fresh.
LIFESTYLE
5 min read
Where to store your food
Caption: Fresh organic tomato closeup .
Photographer: Maria Korneeva
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF
Tomatoes
Ripe ones should be kept on the counter uncovered if you’re going to enjoy them in the first few days after purchase.
Potatoes
They need to be in a dry, dark place like a cupboard. Exposure to light or moisture can rot the skin.
When you cook potatoes the right way they go from being a health burden to a health hero (Photo: Getty)
Caption: A Hand holding a bit brown banana
Photographer: bauwimauwi
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Bananas
12°C is best, as they will ripen quicker if they are too warm, so a darker space with no direct sunlight is ideal.
Fridge or cupboard?
- 1Apples are best in cool to cold temperatures so the salad compartment of the fridge is ideal to keep them crunchy.
- 2At room temperature lemons stay good for a week but in the fridge it stretches to two.
- 3Ripe avocados should go in the fridge to slow down the ripening process but if they’re firm, a warm sunny spot is best.
- 4Soy sauce, due to the high levels of salt, is best in the cupboard – even once opened.
Where to store your food
Nuts
Nuts are fine in the cupboard but keeping them in the fridge in an airtight container helps prevent spoilage.
Caption: Cookie jar, tea, wine, nuts, books, lit candles and Christmas decorations on the table. Cozy Christmas hygge at home. Selective focus.
Photographer: Jelena990
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto
Garlic bulbs (Photo: Emma Dahl/RHS)
Garlic
This suits dry, dark places so a cupboard is ideal.
Onions
Low temperatures can transform the starches of the onion into sugars, making it soft, and potentially mouldy.
Close up shot of man chopping onions during cooking class – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Are you ready for a change?
One career expert shares the surefire signs you’re ready for the next step in your career, and how to turn fear into excitement for new opportunities.
The research
Our research shows almost half of all workers (45 per cent) are ready for a complete career transition, but 49 per cent feel stuck on what to pursue next. The rapid shifts brought about by AI can be intimidating, but it will also create opportunities…
CHARLOTTE DAVIES, LINKEDIN UK CAREER EXPERT
Young woman at her first job interview with the owner of a coffee shop – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Signs you’ve outgrown your role
(Photo: Getty).
It’s an energy drain
If you’re clocking in and out with zero energy, that could be a sign of burnout by boredom.
You’re not learning
If you can handle all tasks on autopilot, you are not challenging yourself. Instead you’re operating purely on muscle memory.
Education, laptop and typing with student friends in library of university together for learning or study. Computer, development or growth with serious men and women on college campus for scholarship – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
(Photo: DMP/Getty Images).
You don’t feel valued
It can be extremely demotivating, and if it occurs consistently, it’s a strong signal that it might be time to consider moving on.
Your brain has started a side project
Caption: Side hustles
Photographer: swissmediavision
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+
When you are seeking out professional development and learning opportunities elsewhere that should be happening at work, it’s a huge signal that you need a job that keeps up with your ambition.
LIFESTYLE
7 min read
You don’t see a path to promotion
Medium shot of businessman leading meeting in office conference room – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
If you go into a meeting asking for a growth plan or a promotion roadmap and all you get are vague promises and non-committal language, that’s actually your answer: they aren’t planning for your potential.
A manager who truly values you should be able to list specific training, projects or goals to get you to the next level.
What to do next
You don’t need to make drastic moves.
- The very first step is to diagnose the root cause if things feel unsettled, and don’t just assume it’s the job itself.
- Find someone trustworthy to talk to. This isn’t a complaint session, it’s about getting perspective.
- Refresh your LinkedIn profile and start reviving your in-person network.
- Thinking of a new field? Check out a short course or certification to ‘test the waters’ before jumping.
Can you learn to love pigeons? A much-unloved animal in the UK
Features writer Kasia Delgado went on a safari to see if she
could look past their rat-like nature
The tour guide
People think pigeons are stupid but lots of studies have shown them to have amazing memories, that they can identify people by their facial features, and they have an extraordinary sense of direction.
Florence Wilkinson, author of Wild City: Encounters with Urban Wildlife, took Kasia on a tour.
Positives of pigeons
War heroes
During the Second World War, carrier pigeons were routinely used to send messages, and they saved thousands of lives.
Homing ability
Scientists have put them in blacked-out vans and put miniature goggles on them to blur their vision and still the pigeons manage to return home.
The Dove family
We think of them as all grey, but they vary in shades, and some of them are quite amazingly coloured, says Florence.
Kasia’s feeding test
As I gingerly chuck some seed, wincing slightly, 15 or so flap their wings at me. I wouldn’t say I feel content or relaxed but I don’t hate it as much as I thought I would.
I can see they’re not going to do me harm and after all, they’re just enjoying some free food.
A common myth?
Disease carriers
Research has found that between 1941 and 2004, there were only 207 reports worldwide of pathogens transmitted from pigeons to humans.
Not all walks are
created equal
Read on to find out how to supercharge yours into an unbeatable health-builder
How to supercharge your walk
Get a bit breathless
All walking paces are linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease but there are additional gains made by those who walk at a moderate-to-vigorous intensity.
Walk uphill
Try to find varying inclines to increase energy and muscle burn.
Add weights
The extra resistance challenges your heart to work harder, increasing cardiovascular fitness.
How to supercharge your walk
Uneven ground
Mountainous and uneven terrain work your stabilising muscles harder, increasing the difficulty and output from your walk.
Go Nordic
Using poles engages the arms as well as the legs and core, turning walking into a full-body workout.
A walk is beneficial at any time of day, but after eating could be best. Research has found that 10- to 30-minute walks taken 10 to 30 minutes after a meal can reduce the peak blood-sugar measurements reached.
Slower and lower blood sugar throughout the day reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
How to supercharge your walk
Go green
Walking in nature has more psychological benefits than concrete. It’s shown to significantly reduce anxiety and depression.
Improve your posture
Staying tall through the spine, open your chest and keep your eyes forward (not leaning over on your phone..).
Meet outside
Walking is a good time to have conversations, whether with your boss or a friend.
Mistakes to avoid
- 1Focusing on step count – most research suggests that benefits plateau at 7,000 steps a day.
- 2Using ankle weights – they can tug at the hip flexors and the knees.
- 3 Doing one-and-done – just hiking for three hours on the weekend, and nothing throughout the week, means you’re missing out on benefits.
- 4Thinking it’s not a workout – walking packs in cardio and brain-boosting effects without the recovery time of intense exercise.
Eight million people in the UK are living with heart or circulatory disease
And while chest pain is a well-known symptom, there are more subtle signs you should be aware of too.
Overlooked signs of heart disease
Dizziness and fainting
An abnormal heart rhythm can cause a dizzy feeling. While much dizziness is not serious, it can be associated with life-threatening complications.
Increased breathlessness
This breathlessness could be due to blockages and reduced blood flow in the arteries.
Swollen ankles
Unusual swelling can indicate a problem with the body’s circulatory system and kidneys.
Worsening fatigue
Ongoing and worsening fatigue can indicate an underlying health issue, and it could be a sign that your heart isn’t working as effectively as it should be. If persistent fatigue is impacting you day-to-day, the best thing to do is speak with your doctor.
Ruth Goss, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation
Overlooked signs of heart disease
Indigestion-type symptoms
Discomfort in the stomach, chest and ribs, or a burning sensation in the chest area, could all be symptoms of heart disease.
Erectile dysfunction
If it’s an ongoing issue, there could be an underlying health problem, including atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), diabetes or high blood pressure.
So how has he got here and what would he do in No 10?
Repeating the success of 2025
In the 2025 local elections, Reform won the largest number of seats, taking 41 per cent of all seats up for election and picking up nine councils.
At the time, some people suggested that it might be a flash in the pan, or that Reform would make such a hash of running its councils that voters would quickly drop them.
So far, that has not happened. While Reform has had a rocky year in a number of its councils – with substantial efficiency savings proving hard to find and infighting breaking out in some places – it has not put people off voting for them.
Farage said on Friday: “What you’re seeing is voters who aren’t just coming to us for a one off, they’re now becoming Reformers in every way”.
Poll lead borne out
Reform has led in every poll for more than a year. While its polling average has dipped a little in recent months, the results from these elections demonstrate that the party’s lead over its rivals is not a mirage.
In a sample of more than 500 wards where the polling guru Professor Sir John Curtice collected detailed voting figures for the BBC, the party had an average vote share of 26 per cent. While that is not a particularly high figure historically for a local election winner, it still puts Reform comfortably above its opponents, and roughly matches where the party is currently in the polls.
James Frayne, a veteran political strategist, told The i Paper: “Reform have really only just performed in line with what a lot of the polls have been saying. People that are surprised by it just haven’t been paying attention.”
Gains across the country
In Farage’s first media appearance on Friday morning, the Reform leader drew attention to the geographical spread of the party’s victories. “We are competitive, right down from the South West of England, up to the north-east of Scotland,” he said.
It was a message which Reform HQ deliberately underscored with its choice of celebratory visits for Farage.
First, he popped up in Havering, where Reform had won its first London borough. In the afternoon, he travelled to St Helens, where he predicted Reform would take control of the council – for decades, Merseyside has been a Labour stronghold.
As well as winning in Labour’s backyard, Reform took a huge Tory scalp by winning Essex County Council – Kemi Badenoch’s local authority – and the final stop of Farage’s victory tour.
Reform’s second place billing in Wales behind Plaid Cymru, pushing Labour into a distant third, meanwhile shows that the party is not purely an English phenomenon.
Favourite for largest party at next general election
Frayne said that the results confirmed that Farage is in “pole position” to be prime minister after the next general election. “It’s still going to be very difficult for him to secure a majority,” he said. “The polls have generally put him mid to high 20s… they’ve definitely dropped a little over the course of the last several months.”
Last month, an MRP “mega poll” by the More in Common think-tank forecast that on the basis of a 28 per cent vote share, Reform would be one seat short of a Commons majority.
A forecast by Professor Michael Thrasher of national equivalent vote share – an estimate of each party’s vote share in the local elections projected into a nationwide vote – suggested Reform would get 284 seats at a general election based on today’s results, short of the 326 needed for a majority, with Labour in second place with 110.
Frayne went on: “They’re shooting towards largest party status, rather than a majority. I don’t think it’s impossible that they could increase their vote share further, but it would be difficult.”
According to Frayne, the most likely scenario as things stand is that Farage would get over the line by negotiating “some sort of coalition of the willing with some right-leaning Tories”.
“I would imagine behind the scenes, there will be very discreet conversations with some of those prospective Tories that might make up their coalition,” he said.
What could change?
While Farage is currently in pole position, it is of course essential to note that the general election is probably still three years away. The half point of Labour’s term will be Christmas by that measure.
Given how volatile British politics has been in recent years, there is still time for much to change. One of the key variables will be who leads Labour into the next election, with many in the party expecting Sir Keir Starmer to stand aside before then, even if he is not immediately ousted.
This set of elections is also very different to choosing the prime minister, and it is possible voters may think differently about putting Farage in No 10.
As The i Paper reported this week, an emerging Labour strategy will be to try to unite a “progressive block” of voters who are terrified by the prospect of Farage in Downing Street.
What would a Reform government look like?
Immigration
Reform have vowed to stop the Channel crossings by deporting 600,000 migrants over five years, saying anyone coming to the UK in a small boat will be barred from claiming asylum, and that countries such as Afghanistan will be paid to take their nationals back. The party has said that detention centres for holding migrants before they are deported will be based in constituencies and councils controlled by the Greens.
Welfare and pensions
The party has pledged to keep the state pension triple lock, which it has said it will pay for with “the biggest cuts to the benefits bill ever seen in the history of this country”. It has pledged to restore the two-child benefit cap.
Economy
Last November, in a bid to improve Reform’s economic credibility, Farage backtracked on the party’s pledge at the last general election to slash taxes by £90bn a year. Robert Jenrick, the party’s Treasury spokesman, has pledged to keep the Office for Budget Responsibility and maintain the independence of the Bank of England.
Education
Reform’s education policy remains thin, though education spokesman Suella Braverman has said that if the party gets into power it will introduce “patriotic” history lessons and require every school to display the King’s portrait and fly the Union flag.
Environment
Reform’s business spokesman, Richard Tice, has called man-made climate change “garbage”. The party has backed more extraction of oil and gas from the North Sea and would allow fracking. Tice has also said that Reform would axe deals which Labour has struck with renewable energy developers.
Health, defence and foreign policy
There are still many holes in Reform’s policy agenda. With only eight MPs, it lacks spokespeople across major policy areas including health, defence and foreign policy.
The party has said little on health. Farage has previously spoken about shifting to an insurance-based system, although Reform insists it will “never” charge for the NHS.
On defence, the party’s last manifesto committed to raising military spending to 3 per cent of gross domestic product, though it is not clear how this will be funded. Farage would tear up the “reset” deal which Starmer agreed with the EU, and would probably seek close relations with the US, particularly if it is under a Republican administration.