Nigel Farage speaks at the Rainton Arena in Sunderland

In a speech to members at the Rainton Arena in Sunderland, the Clacton MP said the May 7 polls were a “referendum on our entire political class”.

The Reform UK leader said the party would campaign on “local policies” and on seeking to control council tax levels, but that the local elections would also be a “vital stepping stone” to changing the Westminster Government.

He repeated his assertion that May’s ballots would be a “referendum” on Sir Keir Starmer’s future in No 10, adding: “This effectively will be a referendum on our entire political class and our message is simple.

“If you want real change, if you want different people, if you want those with the courage, who are prepared to stand up and put the interests of British people first, not international treaties or bogus organisations, if you want people who will make sure that it’s British people that go to the top of social housing lists, and not young men who’ve just arrived by boat, if you want change on May 7, you’ve got a chance to vote for change.”

He added: “Something remarkable is happening out there, and it’s because people understand that the two-party system has broken Britain.”

Mr Farage said: “We’ll begin on May 7, with that campaign, and indeed for the general election, May 7 is an essential, vital stepping stone.

“Whilst local government matters, it’s winning national government ultimately that we have to achieve to change things and turn this country around, change attitudes, and get out of the negativity of managed decline.

“Let’s start believing in Britain and believing in ourselves.”

Appearing alongside Mr Farage was Aaron Roy, a former Labour councillor in Hartlepool who said he had left the party and joined Reform because he believed in “giving power back to communities”.

“For me, politics is not about control, it’s about service. It’s not about protecting positions, it’s about empowering people, and that’s why today I’m joining Reform,” Mr Roy said.

Central to Mr Farage’s local pitch will be Reform’s claim to have identified £700 million in savings across its 12 councils, which he claims had been delivered “without touching frontline services”.

In November last year, Reform said its councils had saved £331 million.

Reform is seeking to turn an opinion poll lead into votes at the ballot box in May and add to the 677 councillors it won in last year’s local elections.

But its claims to have achieved significant savings have been disputed by opposition councillors, while Labour has pointed to care homes and adult education services closing in Reform-run Derbyshire.

Labour has also criticised Reform for increasing council tax despite promising to cut the levy before last year’s local elections.

Reform now says council tax rises in authorities where it has majority control have averaged less than those run by Labour, the Conservatives or the Lib Dems, while describing below-inflation increases in some councils as a “real-terms tax cut”.

But this does not include Worcestershire, where Reform runs a minority administration and increased council tax this year by 9%.

Ahead of the launch, Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley said: “Reform’s promises fall apart the moment they take power.

“They said they would cut taxes and waste, but in council after council they’re hiking council tax and slashing services.”