Nigel Farage reflects on 'astonishing' election success for Reform UK

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has reflected on an 'astonishing' set of results for the party in Thursday's local elections and the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.

The party gained overall control of 10 councils, won two mayoral elections and overturned Labour's hefty majority in the by-election to return a fifth MP to Parliament.

Speaking on GB News, Farage said the results were better than he anticipated.

"It exceeded my expectations - I knew we would do well", he said.

"I was touring the country meeting groups of our candidates and they were saying 'we're going to win', I told my press officer they're deluded.

"But no, that was the mood of the country. They are an astonishing set of results."