Reform UK overtook Labour in a council by-election on Thursday, marking yet another blow for Keir Starmer's beleaguered premiership.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham will be feeling the sting even more, as it happened in his backyard.
It comes as a mega poll puts Nigel Farage on track to be the next prime minister.
The YouGov poll also projected Reform would form a minority government if a general election were held tomorrow.
The pollster’s second MRP model since the 2024 election, which is based on responses from 13,000 voters, projects the party would win 311 seats, just 15 short of a majority.
A Reform UK spokesman said: “For decades, the British people have been betrayed by both Labour and the Conservatives. People have voted election after election for lower taxes and controlled immigration, instead, both parties have done the opposite.
“The public are now waking up to the fact that Starmer is just continuing the Tory legacy of high taxes and mass immigration.”
However, the picture is not entirely rosy for Reform. Despite surpassing Labour in Manchester on Thursday, the insurgent party ultimately lost the by-election and three others.
But where did Reform fall short of success in the by-elections this week? The People's Channel investigates
Caol and Mallaig, Scottish Highlands
Independent candidate Sammy Cameron saw success at the by-election
|THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL
A by-election was held in Caol and Mallaig in the Scottish Highlands following the resignation of Green Party Councillor, Andrew Baldrey.
Independent candidate Sammy Cameron was elected after scooping 36.3 per cent of the votes.
The results are:
- Independent (Sammy Cameron): 36.6 per cent
- Independent (Allan Henderson): 30.3 per cent
- Liberal Democrats: 16.9 per cent
- Scottish National Party (SNP): 8.7 per cent
- Reform: 4.9 per cent
- Independent (Matthew Sam Prosser): 1.3 per cent
- Labour: one per cent
- Conservatives: 0.8 per cent
The Highland Council said it had a 33 per cent voter turnout at the polls.
Tain and Easter Ross, Scottish Highlands
It was victory for the the Liberal Democrats at the Tain and Easter Ross by-election in the Scottish Highlands.
The by-election was sparked after former SNP Councillor, Derek Louden, resigned.
The results are:
- Liberal Democrat: 38.8 per cent
- Independent: 28.4 per cent
- SNP: 14.8 per cent
- Reform: 12.9 per cent
- Green: 3.2 per cent
- Conservative: 1.9 per cent
Reform UK lost out in four by-election wins this week
|PA
Rolvenden and Tenterden West, Kent
The Green Party kept hold of their seat at the Rolvenden and Tenterden West by-election in Kent.
Reform however received the second highest number of votes, with 31.6 per cent.
The results in full:
Green: 36.5 per cent- Reform: 31.6 per cent
- Conservatives: 27.9 per cent
- Liberal Democrats: 2.6 per cent
- Labour: 1.4 per cent
A new mega poll shows Nigel Farage could be Britain's next Prime Minister
|YOU GOV
Woodhouse Park, Manchester
The council seat also stayed Green in Woohouse Park, Manchester.
Reform again followed behind in second place, scooping 29.5 per cent of votes.
The full results:
- Green: 43.8 per cent
- Reform: 29.5 per cent
- Labour: 20.5 per cent
- Conservative: 3.8 per cent
- Liberal Democrats: 2.5 per cent
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