Nigel Farage has declared Reform UK as "the real opposition" following significant gains in local elections across England, claiming his party has "replaced the Conservative Party" in a triumphant victory speech.
The Reform UK leader celebrated after his party snatched a parliamentary seat from Labour in a knife-edge by-election and won control of multiple councils.
"We are the winners of 2025, right across the length and breadth of England," Farage told supporters in his speech.
Reform UK's Sarah Pochin won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes over Labour candidate Karen Shore following a tense recount.
Nigel Farage declared Reform UK as the official opposition
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The victory saw Reform overturn a massive 14,696 Labour majority in the northwest England constituency.
Speaking at the victory conference, he said: "This Conservative Party once the party of government for 200 years is now being hollowed out. Branches closing. Members leaving.
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"No councillors. No reason to campaign. This is the beginning of the end. This is the death of the Conservative Party. And you know something? They deserve it. They did it to themselves.
"But let’s not forget it’s not all rosy for Labour either. What happened in Durham today is the equivalent of Kent. We won 63 council seats on Durham County Council.
"Labour's majority has been reduced to just four seats. We're taking votes from Labour in the North, votes from the Conservatives in the South votes from everyone across the country.
"Back in 2021, it was a low point for Keir Starmer. That election was so bad for Labour, he nearly resigned. Shame he didn’t, though knowing our luck, we might’ve ended up with someone worse.
"Still, Labour is down nearly 200 seats from that low point. And if you're watching Sky News’s seat tallies, though I suspect we’ve got more GB News fans here, Labour is now listed under 'Others'. Couldn’t happen to nicer people, could it?
"Let’s not forget their record: the assault on family farmers, attacks on small businesses, driving our most entrepreneurial citizens out of the country, demonising private schools, attacking nearly everything that works."
The by-election was called after former Labour MP Mike Amesbury was convicted of assaulting a constituent.
Pochin, a former Conservative councillor, becomes one of five Reform UK MPs in Parliament. Reform UK has made sweeping gains across England, winning more council seats than any other party in results declared so far.
The by-election was called after former Labour MP Mike Amesbury was convicted of assaulting a constituent.
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The party now controls nine local authorities, with significant victories in areas like Cleveland and Durham County Council.
"We now have total control over nine councils," Farage said in his victory speech.
Reform also secured mayoral victories, with Dame Andrea winning the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty "by a country mile" according to Farage.
A former Olympic gold-medallist boxer also won the Hull and East Yorkshire mayoralty for the party.
In Durham, Reform won 63 council seats, reducing Labour's majority to just four.
