The dramatic victory in Runcorn and Helsby came after a recount - the Labour and Reform candidates were initially separated by just four votes.

Nigel Farage’s hopes of Reform contending as a potential party of government at the next election have received a massive boost as his candidate won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes.

The right-wing party made early gains in local English election results and won a parliamentary by-election by the smallest ever margin in the first major electoral test since last year's general election.