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Reform UK has overtaken other parties to come within five percentage points of Labour in two traditional stronghold seats in Barnsley, according to the latest polls.

Although both Barnsley North and Barnsley South are predicted to remain Labour seats, Reform’s candidates are coming a close second.

The new constituencies have replaced the former Barnsley Central and Barnsley East seats, following a boundary review.

The former Barnsley Central seat was last represented by Labour’s Dan Jarvis, who has held the seat since 2011 – and he will defend his seat for the new Barnsley North constituency.

Councillor David White (left) and Nigel Farage (right) during a visit to Hoyland earlier this month

Polls predict that Mr Jarvis will retain his seat, with just over 45 per cent of the vote – but hot on his heels is Reform’s Robert Lomas, who is predicted to gain 40 per cent.

The former Barnsley East seat, being defended by Stephanie Peacock, is under its new boundaries as Barnsley South – and polling shows she is only eight percentage points ahead of Reform’s David White.

Since Nigel Farage became leader of Reform UK, the party has seen a rise in the polls, especially in Barnsley, where he visited earlier this month.

It’s no surprise Farage has his eye on the Barnsley seats – despite being traditional Labour strongholds, the Brexit Party candidates were only around 3,000 votes short of Labour in both seats in 2019.

Barnsley is such a Labour stronghold it managed to fend off Conservative MPs in 2019, even though 68 per cent of residents voted leave in 2016’s referendum, remaining one of the only bricks left in Labour’s Red Wall.

Voters will have to wait and see if Labour can hold their seats.

Polls show Reform closing in on Labour in stronghold Barnsley seats