Reform’s Sarah Pochin was declared winner of the seat of Runcorn and Helsby in northwest England by six votes after a recount. Leader of Reform Nigel Farage told journalists that the victory represented a “loss of confidence” in the governing Labour Party.

Nigel Farage's right-wing Reform UK party made early gains in local English election results on Friday and won a parliamentary by-election by the smallest ever margin in the first major electoral test since last year's general election The populist Reform,

Nigel Farage has said Reform UK is “the main opposition party” after success across the country in the local elections.