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.

Farage hails ‘end of two-party politics’ as Starmer and Badenoch apologise - Reform takes control of 10 councils, snatches dramatic victory in Runcorn by-election and wins two mayoral contests

Nigel Farage, the leader of the far-right Reform UK party who was one of the biggest proponents of Brexit and the UK's departure from the European Union, will be put to the test in the country's local elections on Thursday.