A message from the chairman

  The recent Tunbridge Wells borough elections marked an important milestone for Reform UK in Tunbridge Wells and across Kent. 

I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to every candidate, volunteer, supporter and member who contributed to what was our most ambitious local election campaign to date.

One of our greatest achievements was successfully fielding 15 candidates across Tunbridge Wells and the Weald. This was no small task. It required months of planning, recruitment, candidate selection, training, fundraising and campaigning. The fact that our branch was able to field a full slate of candidates in the divisions we targeted was a significant accomplishment, particularly when other parties, including Labour and the Greens, were unable to match that level of coverage.

While there is always a desire to achieve more, the election results demonstrated that Reform UK continues to build strong momentum locally. Across our contested divisions, we achieved an increase of more than 40% in our vote share compared with the 2025 election, a mere year ago. This represents a substantial advance and confirms that our message is reaching more voters than ever before.

Our campaign was built on the dedication of ordinary members giving their time to leaflet, canvass, attend street stalls, engage with residents and spread our message throughout the constituency. The professionalism and commitment shown by our candidates throughout the campaign reflected extremely well on our branch and the wider party.

Following the election, our candidates and campaign team participated in a detailed lessons-learned exercise. We carefully reviewed every aspect of the campaign, identifying what worked well and where improvements can be made. This process is vital if we are to continue building on our progress and convert growing support into future electoral success. The key conclusion was clear: we must maintain the momentum generated during this campaign and continue engaging with residents between elections, not just during them.

Looking ahead, our focus remains on growing the branch, recruiting new members and volunteers, strengthening our community presence and preparing for future electoral opportunities. We have established strong foundations and now have the opportunity to build upon them.

Our commitment to the wider Reform UK movement also continues. In the coming weeks, several of our Branch Officers will be travelling to Makerfield to support the campaign there. This reflects the strong team spirit that exists within Reform UK, with members and branches working together to help deliver success across the country.

The political landscape is changing rapidly. More and more voters are recognising that the old parties are failing to deliver the change Britain needs. Reform UK is increasingly becoming the natural home for those seeking common-sense policies, accountable government and a better future for our country.

Thank you once again to everyone who played a part in this campaign. Together, we have achieved a great deal, and this is only the beginning.

Rob

Rob Grindley 

 Chairman
Reform UK Tunbridge Wells Branch