Reform gain control of several councils after by-election and mayoral wins

Nigel Farage’s Reform has this afternoon taken control of seven councils, just hours after dramatically beating Labour in a by-election for Runcorn and Helsby.

The party has taken overall majority of Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Kent and Nottinghamshire councils, which were all previously Tory-run. Reform has also taken control of Durham County Council, where Labour was previously the biggest party.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he “gets” why his party suffered defeat to Reform UK in the Runcorn by-election, as he promised to go “further” in delivering change.

The prime minister said the result in Runcorn and Helsby – where Labour lost to Farage’s party by six votes – was “very, very close” but that he didn’t want to give a “standard answer” by suggesting opposition parties do well in by-elections.