The most conservative town in Britain where last Labour MP died 101 years ago

A town in Britain is so conservative that its last Labour MP died over 100 years ago. However, its local constituency is fearing a challenge from Reform UK in the upcoming elections as Nigel Farage aims to grab seats on the county council.

The town of Boston, in Lincolnshire, was represented by Labour MP William Stapleton Royce who died 101 years ago. Despite the popularity of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties in similar rural counties, Lincolnshire, in eastern England, has held firm. However, research from academics suggests the county is more right-wing than expected.

Academics Jamie Furlong and Will Jennings say that Lincolnshire is mysteriously Conservative according to its urbanity, housing tenure, age and health. They compare it to Merseyside which is more left-wing than it should be.

As reported by The Economist, Nick Worth, the leader of South Holland District Council, said: "Ever since I can remember it’s been Conservative." His council has no Labour, Liberal Democrat of Green members but it now faces opposition from Reform UK in the May 1 local elections.

Reform's Andrea Jenkyns is also trying to win the mayoralty of Greater Lincolnshire, a new office. She joined the party in November after losing her seat as a Tory MP in July.

Reform UK leaders held a rally at the Lincolnshire Showground last month. Party leader Nigel Farage criticised the local Conservative-run councils and called for a change in the county.

He said at the time: "Lincolnshire needs a fresh start, a fresh approach. It’s been tough for county councils as central government has been cut, but Lincolnshire didn’t adapt to a new world."

He added: "Local councils are broken. Lincolnshire is broken, and it needs Reform. We will put it under more professional business management. Policing also needs a fresh start, with so many local people saying they're afraid of crime and street robbery."

While he acknowledged that Ms Jenkyns was a slight underdog in the race to become the first Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, he said "she has a very good chance".

Farage said: "This has been such safe Conservative territory. Six months ago you would have said I was a dreamer - that it’s not possible. But we will see. Conservatives have over 50 of the 70 seats on the county council, but it’s not a long shot we win that either - maybe a short shot."

Ms Jenkyns' new party, like the Conservatives, strongly oppose schemes to build new solar farms in Lincolnshire. They are also against the National Grid erecting pylons to carry electricity from wind farms in the North Sea, which appeals to local people who scorn the ideas.

While the Tories, who still want to slash carbon emissions, believe the solar farms should be built on less fertile land, Reform UK is against the idea entirely. This may just appeal to local people in Lincolnshire who stand firmly against the energy firms' proposals.

The party's deputy leader Richard Tice previously said forms of renewable energy, such as solar farms, are a "massive con". He insead promised Reform would recover money paid in subsidies to wind and solar companies.

The Boston and Skegness MP said: "The British people are being ripped off by the renewables industry." He suggested a "generation tax" and a "special corporation tax" would cover the costs of government funding for renewable energy."

Tice added: "The British people need to know there is a direct link between the cost of all these subsidies to the vested interests in the renewables industry and your bills."

Another factor for strong right-wing support is that many of Lincolnshire farmers depend on casual labour from east European immigrants who cannot vote in general elections. A lot of them also choose not to take part in local politics as well, although they are allowed to.

According to Anton Dani, a Conservative politician who was once a mayor of Boston, many of the labourers are deterred by online abuse. The Morocco-born Briton said: "I'm the only one who sneaked in."