{"id":68160,"date":"2025-05-02T10:38:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T10:38:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/68160\/"},"modified":"2025-05-02T10:38:12","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T10:38:12","slug":"reform-braced-for-major-gains-after-winning-knife-edge-runcorn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/68160\/","title":{"rendered":"Reform braced for major gains after winning knife-edge Runcorn"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Reform UK is anticipating major gains as the local election results come in, after <a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/ca.news.yahoo.com\/farages-reform-uk-narrowly-wins-055245714.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:winning the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">winning the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Nigel Farage said it had been a &#8220;huge night&#8221; for his party, after Reform snatched the safe seat from Labour following a dramatic recount, and is gearing up for more wins in the local elections.<\/p>\n<p>Sarah Pochin became Reform&#8217;s fifth MP after winning 12,645 votes, beating Labour&#8217;s Karen Shore, who won 12,639 votes.<\/p>\n<p>Polling expert Sir John Curtice said the result showed <a data-i13n=\"cpos:2;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/reform-uk-policies-manifesto-nigel-farage-080945100.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Farage&#039;s party is \u201cin business\u201d in what is expected to be a successful set of local results for Reform;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Farage&#8217;s party is \u201cin business\u201d in what is expected to be a successful set of local results for Reform<\/a> &#8211; largely at the expense of Labour and the Tories.<\/p>\n<p>Tory party co-chairman Nigel Huddleston said that while his party had expected a bad night in the local elections, it had been \u201ca terrible night for Labour\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He told Sky News: &#8220;Our key job as His Majesty\u2019s opposition is to hold this disastrous Labour Government to account on the terrible policies that they are implementing and on that actually, that resonated well on the doorsteps.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Reform also added dozens of councillors in <a data-i13n=\"cpos:3;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/local-elections-2025-map-near-you-voting-164410386.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:local elections;cpos:3;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">local elections<\/a> across the UK and won its first mayoral election in Greater Lincolnshire with <a data-i13n=\"cpos:4;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/ca.news.yahoo.com\/controversial-former-tory-minister-become-055502887.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:former Tory minister Andrea Jenkyns victorious;cpos:4;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">former Tory minister Andrea Jenkyns victorious<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been a huge night for Reform,&#8221; Farage said after the Runcorn victory. \u201cIt\u2019s the closest by-election since the war&#8230; but I sense, also, one of the most significant.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Local elections were held on Thursday across 24 of 316 councils in England, with people voting for six mayors and 1,750 councillors.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Follow the live blog from Yahoo News for all the latest local election updates:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Live38 updates<\/p>\n<ul class=\"caas-liveblog-pinned-list\">\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost pinned\" data-id=\"3389bf42-4a9e-4323-bc2a-0b8726b5f7ab\" id=\"3389bf42-4a9e-4323-bc2a-0b8726b5f7ab\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">\n<p>What are the results so far?<\/p>\n<ul class=\"caas-list caas-list-bullet\">\n<li>\n<p>Reform has won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes, ousting Labour<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Reform has also taken 79 council seats to date, making it the frontrunner<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Labour has won the mayoral races in North Tyneside, the West of England and Doncaster<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Dame Andrea Jenkyns has secured a Reform mayoral win in Greater Lincolnshire<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Councillor Ros Jones, who held onto her Doncaster mayoral seat, said the elections show Keir Starmer\u2019s government needs to listen to voters<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Speaking on the win, Farage told Badenoch to &#8216;stay in power&#8217; so Reform can build on its success, and called Starmer &#8216;a coward&#8217;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Speaking on its loss, Labour said \u201cchange takes time\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"caas-liveblog-list\">\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"e0b3b942-8c32-47b5-9db0-43b6356a426f\" id=\"e0b3b942-8c32-47b5-9db0-43b6356a426f\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 3:28 am GMT-7Who is yet to declare?\n<p>Local election results are pouring in today, and will be declared into the evening.<\/p>\n<p>While a spate of results are already known, there are still several councils yet to declare their results.<\/p>\n<p>Only one council, Northumberland, has so far declared all its results, with Reform making gains at the expense of both Labour and the Conservatives.<\/p>\n<p>Two further mayoral contests, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and Hull and East Yorkshire, are also due to declare on Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"2f9cb8c7-6dc6-487a-a602-c32ca86e9605\" id=\"2f9cb8c7-6dc6-487a-a602-c32ca86e9605\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 3:18 am GMT-7 Labour criticised from within own ranks after early local election results\n<p>Labour figures have hit out at the party\u2019s decisions in Government in the wake of the party\u2019s first local election results.<\/p>\n<p>Reform UK\u2019s Sarah Pochin beat Sir Keir Starmer\u2019s candidate Karen Shore by six votes in the Runcorn &amp; Helsby by-election, taking the seat which Labour won with a majority of almost 14,700 less than a year ago.<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, Labour narrowly retained mayoralties in both Doncaster and North Tyneside, with Reform coming a close second in both.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read the full story <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/labour-criticised-within-own-ranks-084819468.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:from PA;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>from PA<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"f8f7b945-3f21-4642-a5c0-0c455ca92e5b\" id=\"f8f7b945-3f21-4642-a5c0-0c455ca92e5b\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 3:12 am GMT-7Who is Dame Andrea Jenkyns?<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"GRIMSBY, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Dame Andrea Jenkyns of the Reform Party speaks after she is declared the winner of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Mayoral Election at Grimsby Town Hall on May 02, 2025 in Grimsby, England. Andrea Jenkyns of the Reform Party won 104,133 votes, making up 42% of the vote count. (Photo by Ian Forsyth\/Getty Images)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/24c7d650-273d-11f0-bf4f-25bc176b6055.jpeg\"\/>\n<p>Dame Andrea Jenkyns of Reform (Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Dame Andrea Jenkyns has become Reform\u2019s first regional mayor after a resounding victory in the new Greater Lincolnshire authority.<\/p>\n<p>The 50-year-old, who joined the party from the Conservatives in November, won 42.0% of the vote, comfortably clear of the Tories in second place on 26.1% with a majority of almost 40,000.<\/p>\n<p>In a controversial speech following her victory, she said there would be \u201can end to soft touch Britain\u201d while on immigration she would \u201csay no to putting people in hotels\u201d, instead suggesting tents were \u201cgood enough\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>A staunch supporter of Brexit and Boris Johnson, she submitted no-confidence letters in both former prime ministers Theresa May and Rishi Sunak.<\/p>\n<p>There was considerable reaction from teachers\u2019 leaders shortly after when Jenkyns made an \u201cobscene gesture\u201d to the public outside Downing Street, as she went to watch Johnson\u2019s resignation speech.<\/p>\n<p>Jenkyns was given a damehood in Johnson\u2019s resignation honours list in June 2023.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"03586f22-ea85-450d-a563-24e9d6b6e513\" id=\"03586f22-ea85-450d-a563-24e9d6b6e513\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 2:59 am GMT-7Voices: How the Brexit vote is still realigning British politics\n<p>OPINION: One of the many remarkable features of a remarkable set of elections is that virtually nowhere in the various councils and mayoralties \u2013 nor in the razor-edge by-election in Runcorn \u2013 has there been a traditional straight fight between Labour and Conservatives, writes Sean O&#8217;Grady for The Independent.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, it\u2019s been, most commonly, Labour versus Reform, sometimes the Tories trying to compete with Nigel Farage\u2019s insurgents, and some scraps in the south and west of England between the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read the full story <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/voices-brexit-vote-still-realigning-090847869.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:from The Independent;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>from The Independent<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"ba78ec2a-161b-42db-973a-19b7605873b3\" id=\"ba78ec2a-161b-42db-973a-19b7605873b3\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 2:56 am GMT-7Ed Davey hands out ice creams to thank voters in Shropshire<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey under a Winner's Enclosure sign during a visit to the BIG Sheep theme park in Bideford, Devon, whilst on the local election campaign trail. Picture date: Thursday April 17, 2025.\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/045bbc80-273b-11f0-affe-67bf9427bdfa.jpeg\"\/>\n<p>Sir Ed Davey under a Winner&#8217;s Enclosure sign whilst on the local election campaign trail (Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey is handing out ice creams in Shrewsbury town centre this morning to thank voters for their support.<\/p>\n<p>In his first comments since polls closed last night, Sir Ed tells reporters he is feeling \u201cconfident\u201d about the result for Shropshire Council which is expected this afternoon, where the local council has been run by the Conservatives for the last 16 years.<\/p>\n<p>The BBC reported that Davey told one punter \u201cthe ice cream is melting just like the Conservative\u2019s support\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Davey, known for his playful electioneering antics, has bungee jumped, ridden rollercoasters and taken part in an obstacle course to secure votes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"a3cf2f55-94b3-48d2-a54b-18152ff79bd7\" id=\"a3cf2f55-94b3-48d2-a54b-18152ff79bd7\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 2:45 am GMT-7Labour must return to &#8220;a Labour-economic plan&#8221;, own MP says<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 25:  Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Rachael Maskell addresses delegates on the first day of the Labour Party Conference in the Exhibition Centre Liverpool on September 25, 2016 in Liverpool, England.  Party leader Jeremy Corbyn will hope to re-unite the party after being re-elected leader yesterday.  (Photo by Leon Neal\/Getty Images)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/5bb00700-2738-11f0-9cbb-2f51ce7cb821.jpeg\"\/>\n<p>Rachael Maskell addresses delegates on the first day of the Labour Party Conference in 2016 (Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Rachael Maskell is the latest Labour MP to call for a &#8220;return to a Labour-economic plan&#8221; amid anger over PIP cuts after last night&#8217;s by-election loss.<\/p>\n<p>The former shadow employment secretary told The Times: &#8220;As we saw in July last year, people are desperate to find hope in politics, and if Labour fails to provide and protect, then people will look in other places.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Only Labour can secure the agenda that people need, but this means the current economic agenda has got to return to a Labour-economic plan which redistributes wealth, protects the vulnerable and provides greater opportunity for all.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"2b32d6b6-f366-4b41-9694-982a4f8300ef\" id=\"2b32d6b6-f366-4b41-9694-982a4f8300ef\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 2:42 am GMT-7Reform is &#8216;now the main opposition party&#8217; &#8211; Farage <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"RUNCORN, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Nigel Farage of the Reform Party reacts as Reform Party candidate Sarah Pochin is declared the winner of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election at the DCBL Stadium on May 2, 2025 in Runcorn, England. Sarah Pochin of the Reform Party was declared the winner of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election following a recount. Pochin won by six votes. (Photo by Anthony Devlin\/Getty Images)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/a70d9630-2739-11f0-bf3e-2350f47a7892.jpeg\"\/>\n<p>Nigel Farage reacts as Reform Party candidate Sarah Pochin is declared the winner (Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Nigel Farage has said that Reform UK are \u201cnow the main opposition party\u201d to the government after his party\u2019s victories in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election and other local election contests.<\/p>\n<p>The Reform leader said that they \u201cdug very deep into the Labour vote\u201d in the Cheshire constituency and have \u201cdug very deep into the Conservative vote\u201d in other parts of England.<\/p>\n<p>Farage told the PA news agency: \u201cIt\u2019s been a big night for us. We\u2019ve dug very deep into the Labour vote and, in other parts of England, we\u2019ve dug deep into the Conservative vote, and we are now, after tonight there\u2019s no question, in most of the country, we are now the main opposition party to this government.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sarah Pochin\u2019s victory in Runcorn takes Reform\u2019s number of seats in the Commons up to five.<\/p>\n<p>Five MPs were elected for the party last year, but the whip has since been suspended from Rupert Lowe.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"65269743-aabe-459c-8a48-cd5c45576f09\" id=\"65269743-aabe-459c-8a48-cd5c45576f09\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 2:30 am GMT-7Labour&#8217;s defeat was &#8216;entirely avoidable&#8217; &#8211; Labour MP\n<p>Labour&#8217;s defeat in Runcorn was &#8220;entirely avoidable&#8221; and &#8220;the direct result of the party leadership&#8217;s political choices&#8221;, the former shadow justice secretary said.<\/p>\n<p>Richard Burgon, the MP for Leeds East, called for the Labour leadership to &#8220;urgently change course&#8221; in a post on X.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Labour\u2019s defeat in Runcorn was entirely avoidable \u2014 and is the direct result of the party leadership\u2019s political choices,&#8221; he wrote.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;By pushing policies like cuts to disability benefits and scrapping the winter fuel allowance, the leadership is driving away our own voters \u2014 and letting Reform squeeze through.<\/p>\n<blockquote placeholder=\"\" data-theme=\"light\" class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p>Labour\u2019s defeat in Runcorn was entirely avoidable \u2014 and is the direct result of the party leadership\u2019s political choices.<\/p>\n<p>By pushing policies like cuts to disability benefits and scrapping the winter fuel allowance, the leadership is driving away our own voters \u2014 and letting\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RichardBurgon\/status\/1918213876430029119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:May 2, 2025;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">May 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;The Labour leadership must urgently change course and govern with real Labour values to deliver the change people are crying out for.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Burgon joins a number of Labour politicians calling for change following the by-election defeat.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"db34caf6-8ae4-4b6c-879c-11f9b8461746\" id=\"db34caf6-8ae4-4b6c-879c-11f9b8461746\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 2:15 am GMT-7UK turning to &#8216;five-party system&#8217;, Greens say<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"London, UK. 2nd June, 2024. Party Co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Adrian Ramsay, at the BBC for Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Credit: Mark Thomas\/Alamy Live News\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/f7d44900-2735-11f0-af5b-f05e2a4051bc.jpeg\"\/>\n<p>Co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Adrian Ramsay (Alamy)<\/p>\n<p>The UK is turning to &#8220;a five-party system&#8221;, with voters &#8220;looking for an alternative&#8221; to Labour and the Tories, the co-leader of the Greens has said.<\/p>\n<p>Co-leader Adrian Ramsey has spoken on the party&#8217;s success, like winning the local council by-election in Lambeth, south London.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Ramsey said he is &#8220;confident&#8221; the party will get a record number of councillors in the 2025 local elections.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"5da562a4-864f-47a2-869b-bd13cbe7d7b1\" id=\"5da562a4-864f-47a2-869b-bd13cbe7d7b1\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 2:00 am GMT-7Doncaster mayor puts Labour&#8217;s performance down to PIP and winter fuel allowance cuts\n<p>Labour&#8217;s Doncaster mayor has spoken candidly today about what she thinks are the reasons for her party&#8217;s lacklustre performance at the local elections.<\/p>\n<p>Ros Jones, who was narrowly re-elected as mayor of Doncaster, puts the close shave down to the government limiting who is eligible for the winter fuel allowance, making <a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/pip-benefits-dwp-labour-cuts-disability-changes-150049807.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:cuts to disability benefit PIP;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cuts to disability benefit PIP<\/a> and its <a data-i13n=\"cpos:2;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/national-insurance-rise-month-change-033000906.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:national insurance increases;cpos:2;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">national insurance increases<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>She said: \u201cI wrote as soon as the winter fuel allowance was actually mooted, and I said it was wrong, and therefore I stepped in immediately and used our household support fund to ensure no-one in Doncaster went cold during the winter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The increase in national insurance was \u201chitting some of our smaller businesses\u201d and the squeeze on the personal independence payment was leaving many people \u201cworried\u201d, Jones added.<\/p>\n<p>She added: \u201cI think the results here tonight will demonstrate that they need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street, and actually deliver for the people, with the people.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"20051880-6bea-4272-9455-318775778b36\" id=\"20051880-6bea-4272-9455-318775778b36\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 1:48 am GMT-7Guide to every council and mayoral contest<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"DONCASTER, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Ros Jones of the Labour Party reacts as she fields questions from members of the media after being declared the winner of the Doncaster Mayoral elections on May 02, 2025 in Doncaster, England. Incumbent Ros Jones narrowly defeated her Reform party opponent Alexander Jones to retain the position of Mayor of Doncaster, a post she has held since 2013. In the first local elections since the UK general election last summer, more than 1,600 seats are being contested in 23 councils, with six mayoral positions also being decided. (Photo by Leon Neal\/Getty Images)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/24444f70-2732-11f0-9a7e-108110f80159.jpeg\"\/>\n<p>Ros Jones of the Labour Party after being declared the winner of the Doncaster Mayoral elections (Getty)<\/p>\n<p>A total of 1,641 council seats are up for grabs across 23 local authorities, while four regional mayors and two local mayors will be elected.<\/p>\n<p>Most of the council seats were last contested in May 2021, at a time when the then-Conservative government, led by former prime minister Boris Johnson, was enjoying a spike in popularity following the successful rollout of the first Covid-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n<p>Look at the state of play in every council and mayoral contest.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read more <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/local-elections-2025-guide-every-014531092.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:from PA;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>from PA<\/strong><\/a><strong>. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"7d3609d0-4854-4363-8c31-686edaf3b7c4\" id=\"7d3609d0-4854-4363-8c31-686edaf3b7c4\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 1:44 am GMT-7Reform&#8217;s Runcorn victory shows Labour must &#8216;change course&#8217;, says Labour MP\n<p>Labour MP Brian Leishman has said the by-election result in Runcorn and Helsby \u201cshows Labour must change course\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In a post on X on Friday morning, the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth said: \u201cRuncorn shows Labour must change course.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople voted for real change last July &amp; an end to austerity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe first 10 months haven\u2019t been good enough or what the people want &amp; if we don\u2019t improve people\u2019s living standards then the next government will be an extreme right wing one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"2a0ad80d-ff6d-467a-abab-ddbecc037de6\" id=\"2a0ad80d-ff6d-467a-abab-ddbecc037de6\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 1:26 am GMT-7 What are Reform UK&#8217;s key policies, from immigration to taxes?\n<p>Reform UK has secured a dramatic by-election victory by six votes over Labour in Runcorn and Helsby as a former Tory minister became the party\u2019s first elected mayor.<\/p>\n<p>In one of the closest parliamentary votes ever, new MP Sarah Pochin took the seat that Labour won with a majority of almost 14,700 less than a year ago.<\/p>\n<p>The knife-edge result came after weeks in which Reform has been surging in popularity in nationwide polls and, in the first major electoral test since the 2024 general election, the party showed it is a force to be reckoned with.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read the full story <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/reform-uk-policies-manifesto-nigel-farage-080945100.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:from Yahoo News;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>from Yahoo News<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"f92b5fbe-6c3f-48a3-8602-f51dca06de39\" id=\"f92b5fbe-6c3f-48a3-8602-f51dca06de39\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 1:22 am GMT-7What happens next? Hour-by-hour guide to results<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"HULL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Olympic boxer Luke Campbell, (R) who is Reform\u2019s mayoral candidate for Hull stands with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as he speak to the audience on February 27, 2025 in Hull, England. The Reform Party candidate joins Rowan Halstead (Yorkshire Party), Anne Handley (Conservatives), Kerry Harrison (Green), Margaret Pinder (Labour), and Mike Ross (Liberal Democrats) in their bid to be the first elected mayor of the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority. The vote will take place on Thursday, May 1. (Photo by Ian Forsyth\/Getty Images)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/78523e00-272e-11f0-bb1f-7ccee50ca25d.jpeg\"\/>\n<p>Reform\u2019s mayoral candidate for Hull, Olympic boxer Luke Campbell, with Nigel Farage (Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Want to know what lies ahead? Here&#8217;s what the next few hours should look like.<\/p>\n<p>Counting begins for the remaining two mayoral contests in Cambridgeshire &amp; Peterborough and Hull &amp; East Yorkshire.<\/p>\n<p>The full result is due from Durham, where Labour hopes to regain control after being shut out by a multi-party coalition<\/p>\n<p>The result is due for the new Hull &amp; East Yorkshire mayor.<\/p>\n<p>The pace begins to pick up with three councils due to finish declaring.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"61df2763-7443-4507-a209-3754baa11623\" id=\"61df2763-7443-4507-a209-3754baa11623\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 1:08 am GMT-7Kemi Badenoch&#8217;s position &#8216;is solid&#8217;, Tories say<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch during an appearance on LBC Radio for a phone-in, at Millbank studios in London. Picture date: Monday April 28, 2025. (Photo by James Manning\/PA Images via Getty Images)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/61e04f60-272c-11f0-8bfa-d6eeec13424d.jpeg\"\/>\n<p>Kemi Badenoch&#8217;s party has taken a beating in the local elections. (PA via Getty)<\/p>\n<p>All eyes are on Labour following its Runcorn by-election defeat \u2013 but the Conservatives have also experienced major losses at the hands of Reform.<\/p>\n<p>The party has lost 62 seats so far this local election, following gains from Nigel Farage&#8217;s party.<\/p>\n<p>Asked on BBC Breakfast if Tory leader Kemi Badenoch\u2019s position was secure after the local election results, party co-chairman Nigel Huddleston said: \u201cKemi\u2019s position is certainly solid.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s only been leader for six months and she was out and about right across the country, and I can tell you this, everywhere we went, people wanted to see her more and hear more from her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe\u2019s very sensible, she\u2019s very honest, she\u2019s very straightforward.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;She doesn\u2019t go around telling people what they want to hear. That\u2019s the easy route in politics.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"5be4e8e2-9fed-4ebb-92e5-3fbe9968ebbe\" id=\"5be4e8e2-9fed-4ebb-92e5-3fbe9968ebbe\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 1:02 am GMT-7Staffordshire County Council going turquoise blue\n<p>Reform looks likely to sweep Staffordshire County Council, beating the Conservatives to the post.<\/p>\n<p>Reform has won 24 of the 30 seats that have been declared so far.<\/p>\n<p>The Tories have clinched the remaining six.<\/p>\n<p>There are 32 seats still to be counted before the election result will be declared.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"842c7471-a8bf-4739-933c-92afdcc20ef7\" id=\"842c7471-a8bf-4739-933c-92afdcc20ef7\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 12:52 am GMT-7Labour MP says Runcorn shows government &#8216;must change course&#8217;\n<p>Labour MP Brian Leishman has said the by-election result in Runcorn and Helsby \u201cshows Labour must change course\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In a post on X on Friday morning, the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth said: \u201cRuncorn shows Labour must change course.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople voted for real change last July &amp; an end to austerity.<\/p>\n<blockquote placeholder=\"\" data-theme=\"light\" class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p>Runcorn shows Labour must change course. People voted for real change last July &amp; an end to austerity. The first 10 months haven\u2019t been good enough or what the people want &amp; if we don\u2019t improve people\u2019s living standards then the next government will be an extreme right wing one.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Brian Leishman (@BrianLeishmanMP) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BrianLeishmanMP\/status\/1918198966530777258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:May 2, 2025;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">May 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe first 10 months haven\u2019t been good enough or what the people want &amp; if we don\u2019t improve people\u2019s living standards then the next government will be an extreme right wing one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"0a870520-bf1f-4c9e-aeb3-60258d140abb\" id=\"0a870520-bf1f-4c9e-aeb3-60258d140abb\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 12:46 am GMT-7How many councillors does each party have so far?\n<p>With all the buzz around Runcorn, you wouldn&#8217;t be mistaken for thinking today is just about the by-election.<\/p>\n<p>A number of local election councils are up for grabs in English constituencies &#8211; 23 to be exact.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what each party is polling at so far.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Number of councillors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Reform &#8211; 79<\/p>\n<p>Conservatives &#8211; 37<\/p>\n<p>Labour &#8211; 11<\/p>\n<p>Independents &#8211; 7<\/p>\n<p>Liberal Democrats &#8211; 5<\/p>\n<p>Greens &#8211; 2<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"95a3fd92-30a6-4010-a32a-1668b100c009\" id=\"95a3fd92-30a6-4010-a32a-1668b100c009\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 12:40 am GMT-7How many seats Reform UK have won in the local elections<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"Reform UK's Sarah Pochin and party leader Nigel Farage talk to the media after the party won the seat in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election at DCBL Halton Stadium, Widnes, Cheshire. Picture date: Friday May 2, 2025. (Photo by Peter Byrne\/PA Images via Getty Images)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/2b4f2e70-2728-11f0-baad-23c596f21ed9.jpeg\"\/>\n<p>Reform UK&#8217;s Sarah Pochin and party leader Nigel Farage (PA via Getty)<\/p>\n<p>Votes are being counted across England following the local elections 2025.<\/p>\n<p>A total of 1,641 council seats were up for grabs across 23 local authorities in this year&#8217;s election, while four regional mayors and two local mayors are also being elected.<\/p>\n<p>Overnight Reform won another seat in Parliament after claiming victory in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, in what is one of the closest parliamentary votes ever.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read more from <\/strong><a data-i13n=\"cpos:1;pos:1\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.news.yahoo.com\/many-seats-reform-uk-won-071726231.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:Manchester Evening News;cpos:1;pos:1;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Manchester Evening News<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"caas-liveblogpost\" data-id=\"a9301ba8-7dfd-4b9d-bdd2-e41d730302e8\" id=\"a9301ba8-7dfd-4b9d-bdd2-e41d730302e8\" data-lmt=\"{\" utc=\"\" may=\"\" gmt=\"\" at=\"\" am=\"\" gmt-7=\"\">Fri 2 May 2025 at 12:33 am GMT-7A &#8216;bad night&#8217; for the Conservatives was a &#8216;terrible night for Labour&#8217;<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview\" alt=\"Nigel Huddleston, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, speaking to the media at College Green, Westminster, London, after Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his Budget at the Houses of Parliament. Picture date: Wednesday March 6, 2024. (Photo by Jordan Pettitt\/PA Images via Getty Images)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/8ac799b0-2727-11f0-baef-5be91305c565.jpeg\"\/>\n<p>Nigel Huddleston spoke to the press about the Conservatives&#8217; performance (PA Images via Getty)<\/p>\n<p>What was a bad night for the Conservatives was &#8220;a terrible night for Labour&#8221;, the Tory party&#8217;s co-chairman has said.<\/p>\n<p>Quizzed on the Conservatives&#8217; significant losses over the local election, Nigel Huddleston said: \u201cPeople do recognise that we\u2019re doing that, but these local elections were always going to be tough, and it\u2019s not a surprise that Reform won in Lincolnshire or indeed in Runcorn.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn fact, actually, I thought they would have won by more in Runcorn.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Reform UK is anticipating major gains as the local election results come in, after winning the Runcorn and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":68161,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5018,3,4],"tags":[748,393,4884,12188,34335,10751,384,1144,34336,12551,34337,712,16,15,1764],"class_list":{"0":"post-68160","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-britain","8":"category-uk","9":"category-united-kingdom","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-england","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-labour-government","14":"tag-local-election-results","15":"tag-local-elections","16":"tag-nigel-farage","17":"tag-northern-ireland","18":"tag-reform-party","19":"tag-runcorn","20":"tag-sarah-pochin","21":"tag-scotland","22":"tag-uk","23":"tag-united-kingdom","24":"tag-wales"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114437810082947415","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68160","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68160"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68160\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68160"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68160"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68160"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}