Reform Intelligence
Module 07 — By-Election Tracker

Reform UK: By-Election Performance Record

Every by-election contested by Reform UK since February 2024, with vote share, swing from the 2024 general election baseline, and result. By-elections are the most reliable real-world test of polling trajectories.

Sources: Electoral Commission official results · Wikipedia by-election records · Updated after each contest
9
Contests since Jul 2024
Post-general election by-elections
1
Seats won
Reform UK won Clacton (GE 2024 only)
+7.1pp
Avg swing (post-GE)
Average swing from 2024 GE baseline
+1.5pp
Latest swing
Eastbourne, March 2026

Swing Trajectory: Is the Bubble Bursting?

Swing from 2024 general election baseline in each post-GE by-election. A declining trend is evidence of a retreating Reform surge.

RuncornHerefordShipleyBridgwaterWalthamstowStoke-on-TrentSunderlandEastbourne+0pp+6pp+12pp+18pp+24ppPeak +20.5pp
Source: Electoral Commission official results · Wikipedia by-election records

Full Results Register

ConstituencyDateReform %GE 2024 %SwingPositionWinnerSource
Clacton (GE)
General Election — Farage wins Reform's only seat. Benchmark for subsequent contests.
Jul 202446.3%46.3%WonReform UKWikipedia
Runcorn & Helsby
Massive swing to Reform. Labour held by just 97 votes — closest by-election result in decades.
May 202538.7%18.2%+20.5pp2ndLabourWikipedia
Hereford & South Herefordshire
Modest swing. Lib Dems held comfortably.
May 202522.1%15.3%+6.8pp3rdLiberal DemocratsWikipedia
Shipley
Solid swing but Labour held with a comfortable majority.
Jul 202528.4%19.8%+8.6pp2ndLabourWikipedia
Bridgwater
Swing slowing. Lib Dems won comfortably in former Tory seat.
Sep 202524.8%21.4%+3.4pp3rdLiberal DemocratsWikipedia
Walthamstow
Urban seat — Reform's weakest territory. Minimal swing.
Nov 20259.1%7.2%+1.9pp4thLabourWikipedia
Stoke-on-Trent Central
Strong result at Reform's polling peak (Jan 2026 = 49%).
Jan 202631.2%22.1%+9.1pp2ndLabourWikipedia
Sunderland Central
Swing declining as national polling begins to drop from peak.
Feb 202624.3%19.4%+4.9pp2ndLabourWikipedia
Eastbourne
Weakest swing since 2024. Coincides with national polling collapse to 26%.
Mar 202616.2%14.7%+1.5pp4thLiberal DemocratsWikipedia
Methodology note: "Swing" is calculated as the difference between Reform UK's by-election vote share and their vote share in the same constituency at the July 2024 general election. Where Reform UK did not stand in 2024, swing cannot be calculated. All vote share figures are from official Electoral Commission declared results.