Westminster’s Anti-Reform Pact Shows the Old Parties Closing Ranks

The effort to stop Reform is becoming more open. As Reform begins governing in councils and pushing changes on potholes, net zero and local priorities, establishment parties appear increasingly willing to cooperate to keep Nigel Farage’s party away from national power. Michael Heaver looks at reports of a new cross-party “progressive majority” council linked to Andy Burnham’s allies, alongside talk of Green and Labour pacts designed to block Reform. He argues that Labour, the Greens, Lib Dems, SNP and Plaid Cymru are not fundamentally different enough to offer real change, and that their willingness to unite against Reform exposes a shared commitment to the failed status quo. With talk of Burnham, a snap election and anti-Reform coordination growing, the battle is moving beyond normal party politics.