Recycling bins in one corner of Barking.
As the next UK general election looms, the rise of Reform UK is sending shivers through traditionally Labour-held seats—especially in working-class, post-industrial constituencies like Barking. Many political commentators are scrambling for ideological counterpoints. But the real solution may be more practical than political.
Because when populists gain traction, it’s usually not because they win the argument—it’s because something closer to home has already been lost: trust.
In a moment of clarity, Conservative minister James Cleverly summed it up perfectly in The Guardian: “Local government is the bit of government people feel most instantly,” he said. “This is the bit of government that runs adult social care, their roads, their schools, their waste collection. When governments get stuff like that wrong, people notice and people respond.”
And respond they do. But this isn’t the first time Barking has been a battleground.
The 2010 Blueprint: How Barking Beat the BNP
Back in 2006, the far-right British National Party (BNP) shocked the country by winning 12 seats on Barking & Dagenham Council, with leader Nick Griffin launching a bid for Parliament. The area was under pressure—rising immigration, housing shortages, economic stress. Many felt ignored. The BNP thrived in that vacuum.
Fast forward to 2010: every single BNP seat was wiped out.
How?
Former MP Margaret Hodge didn’t take them on with grand speeches about liberal values. Instead, she led a hyper-local campaign that focused on what mattered most to residents: bins, schools, housing, and antisocial behaviour.
As she wrotein August 2024 in The Economist her lessons from east London on countering the far right:“To reconnect with people, we started with what mattered to them. People’s concerns come from their immediate environment, whether that relates to local issues, from car parking to rubbish tips, or national issues that affect them locally, such as the lack of housing or immigration. They don’t want to hear about the latest obsession in the Westminster bubble unless it has a direct impact on them.
“So we wrote directly to voters, inviting them to coffee afternoons and street meetings. We listened to them in these settings and let them set the agenda. Usually, there was something we could do about the local issues raised, so having listened we would act on their concerns.
“Then I would write to them individually again, telling them what we had done. By communicating directly, listening, acting on local issues and communicating again we began to rebuild trust. None of this is rocket science, but it enabled us to bring voters back to a mainstream political party.” The campaign didn’t argue ideology—it delivered results. And by rebuilding trust on the ground, the far-right’s influence evaporated.
⚠️ Why Reform UK Is Targeting Places Like Barking
Reform UK isn’t the BNP—but it is playing a similar game.
From by-election gains in former Labour heartlands to strong showings in local elections, they are zeroing in on voters who feel let down by public services, left out of national conversations, and unheard by their representatives.
And although Barking isn’t always name-checked, it fits Reform’s ideal demographic:
- Working-class and diverse
- Historically Labour, but disillusioned
- Prone to visible service degradation
- High concern over housing and community safety
If Reform makes gains here, it won’t be because of Nigel Farage’s soundbites—it’ll be because someone’s fly-tipping complaints went unanswered.
Six Proven Tactics to Push Back—Locally
To beat Reform, you don’t need a national rebrand—you need street-level presence. Here’s how Margaret Hodge’s 2010 playbook can be updated for 2025:
1. Fix the Basics—and Talk About It
Bins, streetlights, potholes, graffiti. These aren’t trivial—they’re symbolic. When the basics are ignored, people assume they’ve been forgotten too.
Track delivery and publish ward-level “report cards.”
2. Meet People Where They Are
Hold weekly street pop-ups, mobile ward surgeries, or even supermarket listening stands. Stop relying solely on email newsletters.
Use leaflets and WhatsApp groups to feedback progress clearly.
3. Address Housing Fairly and Transparently
Many residents feel like they’re being leapfrogged in social housing queues. Acknowledge the concern, publish the data, and explain the criteria.
Fairness is not just policy—it’s communication.
4. Get Ahead on Antisocial Behaviour
Team up with local police and community wardens. Promote joint patrols. Respond rapidly. Share enforcement outcomes with the community.
Safety is not a right-wing issue—it’s a universal need.
5. Talk About Immigration—Don’t Hide From It
Hodge didn’t shy away from the issue. She reframed it around fairness, contribution, and shared responsibility.
“Everyone contributes. Everyone benefits. But the rules must be clear.”
6. Show What Reform Can’t Do
Highlight that Reform has no serious local policies. Ask: Who will they send to fix your streetlight?
Exposing the lack of delivery capacity defuses the rage.
Why This Works: The Populist Paradox
Populist parties often flourish when establishment failure is visible but unaddressed. When bins overflow and housing feels unfair, people look for scapegoats—unless someone gets there first with action.
This isn’t about promising the moon—it’s about fixing the pavement. Because trust, once broken, isn’t rebuilt by ideology. It’s rebuilt by delivery.
️ The Stakes
Seats like Barking are the new frontline. If Labour wants to keep them—and stave off Reform—it must remember what won Barking in 2010: not better slogans, but better services.
So as the campaign begins, one question matters more than all the others:
How clean are your streets—and how quickly can you prove it?