Reform UK dominates TikTok but Andy Burnham runs most ‘active’ online campaign ahead of crunch by-election, new data shows

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is the most effective political performer on TikTok as insurgent parties dominate the platform, new data shared with GB News has shown.Key figures from Reform UK and fringe politicians from both the left and the right are outpacing the established political mainstream, with independent MPs also gaining traction online.However, the data also revealed that Downing Street hopeful Andy Burnham has run the most ‘active’ campaign on the app ahead of the crucial by-election in Makerfield, amassing close to four million views since the contest was triggered in May.Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain also saw a huge surge in engagement over the month-long campaign. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The study examined the virality, frequency and engagement of more than 11,000 posts since the start of the year.In the ‘effectiveness’ ranking of all UK politicians as of June 2026, Mr Farage was out in front, followed by Your Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in second, and 29-year-old Labour MP Nadia Whittome in third.Independent MP Ayoub Khan, Restore Britain’s Rupert Lowe, and Labour MP Richard Burgon also made it into the top 10, alongside Reform UK politicians Robert Jenrick and Sarah Pochin.No ministers or shadow ministers made the cut, as Tory party whip and rising star Katie Lam was the only frontbench politician among Westminster’s most effective TikTok users.The analysis by Knox Digital, a consultancy run by two former Downing Street digital advisers, also found that Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is the only party leader without a presence on the app.Reform UK leads the way in terms of reach, as its posts are seen by 12 times as many users per post than the Labour Party.In the month to 10 June, posts from Reform UK-affiliated accounts gained an average of 206,600 views per post, with Labour and the Tories lagging behind on 17,900 and 15,500 respectively.Reacting to the findings, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “The traditional media landscape in this country is dead. This research demonstrates what we all already know - that no other party is able to cut through on TikTok like Reform can.'LATEST DEVELOPMENTSGreen Party activist defends London council's refusal to support immigration raidsRetired couple fired upon by Russian warship slam Labour over 'inflammatory' responseBBC under fire after Channel migrants placed on Question Time by refugee campaignersHowever, ahead of the high-stakes by-election it is not only Reform UK on the right of politics that is proving effective on the site, as the average engagement on Restore Britain’s page jumped 47 per cent since the contest was called in May.Founder and CEO of Knox Digital Jock McMillan explained that despite this recent surge, Labour’s Andy Burnham has run the most “active” campaign on the app.He told GB News: “If you want to know how normal voters are responding to politicians, look at TikTok. Nigel Farage remains the most effective politician on the platform in the country but it's Andy Burnham who has run the most active campaign during Makerfield, generating close to four million views whilst being excluded from the main Labour Party page.”Unlike other platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, paid advertising by political parties is prohibited on TikTok, meaning audiences must be built up by direct engagement with users.Mr McMillan added: Insurgent parties and politicians are winning online. As we're seeing Reform and the Greens grow in the polls, we're seeing a reflection of this online - especially amongst younger audiences disenchanted with the status quo.“Six out of the top 10 most effective MPs on TikTok are not from the established parties, with the remaining being on the fringes of Labour and the Conservatives.”The data also shows that posts discussing LGBTQ and trans issues were the most engaged with, while compared to local issues, posts that featured messaging on immigration had seven times as many views.There was also a sharp spike in content debating crime and justice policy following the conclusion of the murder trial of Henry Nowak on 1 June, quadrupling in total reach.Please write at least 4 paragraphs Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter