Reform UK won control of Thurrock Council and Essex County Council at last week's local elections. For a quarter of a century the Conservatives had held a majority at the latter, but the shift was so significant that even former leader Kevin Bentley lost his seat.

An "elated" Reform UK have shocked Basildon as they took 10 new seats at the local elections. The party won 11 out of the 14 seats that were up for grabs in the borough, taking places on the council from the Independents and Labour and one each from Wickford Independents and the Conservatives.

Voters who backed Reform UK are said to have done so because they were seeking "something fresh, new and real"

Council election results for the areas of Billericay, Fryerns, Laindon Park, Langdon Hills, Pitsea, and Wickford

Fly-tipping is worse in Basildon than anywhere else in Essex and most of the East of England, according to new government figures. In 2024 there were more than six thousand reports of fly-tipped rubbish.

Residents worry their voices would not be heard, with many telling us they wouldn't be voting at the local elections next week

EXCLUSIVE: Cllr Sam Journet, who is leading Reform's bid to take two Essex councils, was arrested last year following multiple complaints about him filming in private areas

The local authority is due to build houses on land once considered green belt after adopting Labour's 2024 planning reforms. Labour-run Basildon Council has approved nearly 1,000 homes in the borough, some of which will be built upon former green belt land ...