Local Elections 2026: Labour 'less than confident' as doorstep campaigning leans in Reform's favour
Confidence is not on Labour’s side
A Labour candidate has said he is not confident after doorstep campaigning demonstrated more voters are leaning towards the party’s opposition.
Hart Plain candidate for the borough council elections, John Colman, has said his campaigning trail has revealed national political noise is taking precedence, despite having minimal significance to the local elections.
Mr Colman said: “I’m less than confident if I’m honest. It’s down to a couple of factors - this is being treated as a bit of a vote against the national government and the messages from Reform have come across that the outcome will impact things nationally.
“My experience on the door has been a lot more openly Reform voters. I think a lot of people are going either very left or very right so it has been really difficult to get people to discuss the issues and it’s like they have already made their minds up before they’ve actually met them.”
Labour councillor Amy Redsull said: “Regardless of the outcome, I just hope whoever does get the seat will make sure they work for the best interests of the people.
“We have worked so hard.”