Until now, Reform’s political impact had far outweighed its electoral impact. Mr Farage’s team had topped the polls on and off since the start of the year; the local elections on May 1st were a chance to show that this surge was not just an artefact of polling. The party took it.

Reform UK has won a landslide victory in Scarborough's first ever town council election, winning 11 of 15 available seats. The Labour Party won two seats alongside two Independent candidates, while Sir Robert Goodwill,

There are 98 seats being contested on the local authority. Results in Durham are continuing to be declared throughout the afternoon. Meanwhile, Reform also won its first seat on Hartlepool Borough Council following a by-election.