Local election results LIVE: Farage clinches Runcorn victory in bitter blow to Starmer

Reform UK has inflicting a bruising defeat on in the first by-election test for Sir Keir Starmer.

Reform's new MP Sarah Pochin emerged victorious with a win by just six votes following a knife-edge recount in Runcorn and Helsby's by-election.

It is a dramatic development in a seat which Labour held with a majority of 14,696 in the 2024 vote and came as Reform made gains in local contest across England.

believe they have made "big gains" in the Conservative heartlands of 'Middle England'.

Labour, meanwhile, has admitted it was "always going to be a challenge", after numerous scandals and controversies during their first year of Government.

The Conservatives, who are braced for a disastrous set of results, insisted they are trying to forge a new path under Kemi Badenoch, but said Sir Keir Starmer could be under huge pressure if Labour does not make significant gains.

It comes as a total of 1,641 council seats are up for grabs across 23 town halls in today's local elections, while four regional mayors and two local mayors will be elected.

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