Ex-Conservative MP for Dudley North Marco Longhi defected to Reform before running for a council seat in Upper Gornal and Woodsetton and winning.
He said it had been “an extraordinary night for us”, after he had set a target for the party to win 15 seats.
Asked why he thought people in Dudley had supported Reform in this way, Longhi replied that “they want change”.
“They’ve had Tory and Labour administrations in the council passing the baton, just as has happened in government.
“On the doorstep, I remember when I lost my election as a Conservative MP, the message on the doorstep was ‘you’re all the same’… they’re looking at Reform as that bastion of hope.”
The Black Country Party lost all three of their seats.
There are a couple of new younger faces on the council now – Joel Hyde, 19, was elected for the Brockmoor and Pensnett ward, while Samuel Hussey, 21, will represent Wordsley North.
