Dan Barker, who ran for Reform UK in the 2024 general election in the Blackpool North and Fleetwood constituency, has revealed to Express.co.uk which areas he believes his party could win in the next elections.
Dan Barker joined Reform UK after being disillusioned by the Tories (Image: Dan Barker)
Despite a challenging campaign and limited resources, Barker believes Reform UK is well-positioned to grow significantly by the time of the 2029 election, especially in certain regions across the UK.
Reflecting on his experience, Barker admitted that running as a Reform UK candidate was not without its hurdles.
“When they called the snap election, I had just a few weeks to build a campaign. I rented a static caravan, worked during the day, and campaigned in the evenings and weekends,” he shared. “It was tough without a big team, but I was amazed by the response from the community.”
He was particularly struck by the warm reception he received in Fleetwood, describing the area as “amazing”.
Dan believes Nigel Farage could be the next PM (Image: Dan Barker)
When asked about the party’s most winnable seats in 2029, Barker pointed to several regions where he believes Reform UK has the best chance of success.
“We’ve done well in the north of England, the Midlands, and coastal areas. These are places where people are tired of broken promises from the Tories and Labour,” he noted.
He added that while metropolitan areas may be harder to crack, there is potential as Labour’s policies might cause voters to rethink their loyalties.
“We’re also expecting to be successful in Welsh and Scottish constituencies,” he said, citing growing frustration with the main political parties in those areas.
Barker, who moved from the Conservative Party to Reform UK, says he was driven by a desire for a more genuine political culture.
“The difference with Reform UK is night and day compared to the Tories. There’s a team spirit and honesty that the Conservatives don’t have. People support each other and believe in what we’re doing,” he said.
During the campaign, Barker noted that many voters resonated with Reform UK’s stances on key issues such as immigration, national sovereignty, and dissatisfaction with the major parties.
“We’re talking about common sense and putting British people first,” Barker explained. He noted that disillusionment with the Conservatives and Labour’s shift towards the left have created an opportunity for Reform UK to step in.
As Barker and Reform UK look toward 2029, the party is focused on building stronger local infrastructures and addressing the issues most important to British voters.
“We’ve got to differentiate ourselves from the Conservatives. They say all the right things but deliver the opposite. We’re the party of common sense, and we mean what we say.”
Looking back at the 2024 general election, Barker acknowledged that Reform UK faced significant challenges but remains hopeful for the future.
“The Tories ran a campaign saying, ‘Vote Labour, get Reform,’ but I think it will be different next time. The Conservatives are still in disarray, and it’s not clear how they’ll rebuild before the next election.”
He also believes that public sentiment around issues like net-zero policies, immigration, and crime could play in Reform UK’s favor.
“If the net-zero stuff leads to blackouts or people feel they’re at the back of the queue because of illegal immigration, that benefits us. We’re the party that’s actually listening to people’s concerns.”
Regarding Nigel Farage’s role in the future of the party, Barker didn’t shy away from acknowledging Farage’s influence.
“Farage gave us a boost. He’s a Marmite character— some people love him, some hate him. But he’s very trusted and has the charisma that Boris Johnson had for a while. I see him taking us into the next election, and if things go our way, I could see him being our next prime minister.”
