Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said a strong result for Farage’s party on Thursday might scare both Labour and the Conservatives into toughening their stance on immigration and other issues to try to “become Reform-light.” He said that would be a mistake.

Donna Edmunds said she had been told her words had "brought the party into disrepute and damaged the interests of the party".

Farage’s Reform seizes control of first councils after dramatic by-election win - Farage overturns Labour majority of nearly 15,000 votes in Runcorn and Helsby, as the Tories suffer in the mayoral and