Nigel Farage bags historic win as Reform UK defeats Labour in key battleground for the first time EVER

The result was one of five council by-elections which took place overnight, where some of the results will be grim reading for an already under-fire Sir Keir Starmer.

GB News has taken a look at who were the winners and losers overnight.

Trowbridge (Cardiff)

Things have gone from bad to worse for Labour in the Welsh capital, with Sir Keir Starmer's party losing by-elections to parties on all sides of the political spectrum.

After losing former stronghold of Grangetown to Matt Youde from the Green Party, Labour has now lost Trowbridge, with Edward Topham of Reform UK coming out on top.

Mr Topham got 1,142 votes, 461 votes ahead of the Lib Dems’ Chris Cogger, with 681 votes.

Labour’s Gary Bowen-Thomson sunk into third on 615 votes, with Plaid Cymru’s Carol Ann Falcon on 223 votes.

The Conservatives’ Joe Roberts got 90 votes, the Green Party’s Jess Ryan got 77, while Propel’s Lennox came last with 63 votes.

There was controversy in the ward after Plaid Cymru admitted Ms Falcon briefly joined Reform UK as a "double agent" to find out whether the party would target community food banks in deprived areas of Wales.

A party spokesman said: "In January 2025, Carol Ann through her grassroots work became aware of concerns that Reform UK would target community food banks in deprived areas of Wales as part of its political activity.

"Motivated by concern to protect her community, she briefly joined Reform UK to see first-hand what information was being shared so she could counter it if needed.

"Carol Ann has never shared their values, engaged in their activities, nor voted for them, and ended her membership within weeks.

"She was open and transparent about this when the local Plaid Cymru branch asked her to stand, declared it on her official nomination form, and the party fully understands the reasoning behind her actions in that she acted to safeguard her community, consistent with her wider community work."

A Labour source told Nation Cymru: "Having knocked on quite a few doors it was obvious that we were going to lose. Voters who were previously marked as Labour supporters said they wouldn’t be voting, while others must have voted for Reform."

The by-election, which was caused by the resignation of former Labour councillor Chris Lay, who moved to Telford in Shropshire for work, had a turnout of 24.7 per cent.

Plaistow South (Newham)

It was further bad reading for Labour in east London as the Newham Independents romped to victory in Plaistow South, overturning a formerly safe Labour seat.

The pro-Palestine party, backed by left wing campaign group We Deserve Better, won its seat with candidate Nazrul Islam taking almost 45 per cent of the vote on 913 votes.

Labour's Ash Singh was pushed into second place on 436 votes, with Reform UK's Lazar Monu in third on 329 votes.

Nicholas Motte from the Green Party finished in fourth on 152 votes and the Conservative candidate Rois Miah on 123 votes.

In last was the Liberal Democrat candidate Sheree Miller on 90 votes.

A spokesman for the Newham Independents said: "It was a stunning victory. We will continue to build on this victory going into the elections in May 2026."

The turnout on the election, which was called following the death of veteran Labour councillor Neil Wilson, was 23.07 per cent.

Mr Islam becomes the fourth Newham Independents councillor on the east London borough council, with Labour maintaining a healthy majority.

Kenilworth Park Hill (Warwick)

In the first electoral test for Zack Polanski, the Green Party came out on top as the party held onto the Kenilworth Park Hill ward with a dented majority.

Alison Firth won the election with 1,007 votes. Conservative candidate Malcolm Graham came second with 588 votes, followed by Timothy Wade for Reform UK on 447 votes.

John Dubber from the Liberal Democrats got 344, while Nicola Jones from Labour finished dead last on 81 votes.

Councillor Firth had previously served on Kenilworth Town Council and was Mayor of Kenilworth.

Writing on social media, she said: "I promise to serve with passion, integrity, and persistence. Whether you voted for me or not, my commitment is to the whole of Park Hill, every voice, every neighbour, every part of our community.

"Together we can keep building a fairer, greener, and more connected place we can all be proud of.

"Thank you again and so the Green journey continues with energy and heart. I’m looking forward to putting in the work for the next chapter in Park Hill."

The result means the Greens still have 16 councillors, making them the largest group at Warwick District Council.

They remain without a majority and have formed a coalition with Labour, who have seven seats again after winning yesterday's Leamington Clarendon by-election.

Leamington Clarendon (Warwick)

A sole bright spot from last night's by-election results for Sir Keir Starmer's party was just down the A452, as Labour's Chris Knight came out on top in the Leamington Clarendon ward.

Mr Knight beat Raina Deo from the Liberal Democrats, who got 561 votes with Reform UK's Nigel Clarke in third on 309 votes.

Abi Underwood from the Greens got 240 votes with Tory Dominic Smith getting 140 votes.

Independent candidate Megan Clarke for 72 votes, finishing in last place.

The by-election took place after former councillor Helen Adkins resigned from the council saying she could "no longer tolerate the unacceptable behaviour of the leadership and some portfolio holders of the administration."

Reacting to his victory, Councillor Knight said: "Thank you to everyone who supported me yesterday to represent you in Clarendon.

"Thank you also to everyone who gave up their time volunteering to help me get this far, it’s been a team effort.

"Now the real hard work starts, repaying the trust you’ve placed in me. And that’s what I’m in this for!"

The turnout for the ward in Leamington Spa was 25.16 per cent.

Queen's Park (Brighton and Hove)

In another blow to Sir Keir Starmer's party on the south coast, Labour lost the Queen's Park ward on Brighton and Hove Council to the Green Party.

Marina Lademacher, 28, a teacher and researcher, won the vacant seat on the council on the south coast by more than 400 votes.

Labour's Simon Charleton came second with 729 with Reform UK candidate John Shepherd came third with 237.

The Liberal Democrat candidate Rudi Dikty-Daudiyan came fourth with 98 votes with the Conservative candidate Sunny Choudhury finishing in fifth with 82 votes.

At the bottom of the table was followed by Independent candidate Adrian Hart with 64 votes.

The by-election had a 33.28 per cent turnout.

The seat became vacant when Labour councillor Tristram Burden resigned, citing a conflict of interest in his new job as a local authority inspector at the Care Quality Commission (CQC).