Nigel Farage hails huge Reform milestone after huge by-election victories

Nigel Farage has hailed a major milestone for Reform UK after the party secured yet more council by-election victories overnight. Mr Farage revealed that Reform is now the first British political party to have won over 50 council seats since the May elections earlier this year.

The party now regularly enjoys by-election victories every week, with a further two last night taking Reform over the line. They defeated Labour in the Roebuck ward on Stevenage Council, winning 39.2% of the vote from a standing start having not stood last time. Meanwhile Labour crashed by 12.4% coming a distant second.

Mr Farage's party also took Garlinge ward on Thanet Council from an independent, again securing 44.6% of the vote with a 47 point swing.

However the party did suffer a headache as the LibDems picked up a council seat from Reform in Bromsgrove.

Reacting this morning, Mr Farage said: "Reform UK becomes the first party to win 50 local council by-elections since May 1st [hand clapping emoji]."

Since the May local elections earlier this year, Reform has won 51 council by-elections, gaining 43 new seats.

The LibDems are in second with 45 wins, but gaining just 17; while the Tories are in third with 16 wins having lost 17 seats.

Labour have won just 13 by-elections since May, losing a whopping 34 seats they previously held.

Despite their rise in the polls, the Green Party has gained just two new seats.

Reform now has impressive showings every Thursday, when council by-elections are held, further proving their national poll lead is a real threat to the main parties.

Mr Farage's party swept to an astonishing victory in May's local elections, gaining 677 councillors and 10 councils, many more than experts had predicted.

The party has led in every single national opinion poll since early April, some putting Mr Farage on more than Labour and the Tories combined.