Nigel Farage has celebrated two Reform UK council by-election victories, taking to social media site X to hail the results and hit back at critics.
The party won a seat in Bassetlaw from Labour and another in Halton from the Liberal Democrats. However, Reform narrowly lost in Dudley to Labour by just two votes, with Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain taking 159.
Farage hails 'strong' wins
Mr Farage said: "Strong Reform wins overnight! In Worksop East (Bassetlaw), we went from nothing to 46%, with Labour sinking from 74% to 37%.
"We also smashed the Lib Dems in a ward in Halton, Cheshire, which they won in May this year. The Westminster bubble is as out of touch as ever.
"Sadly, we did lose one ward in Dudley. We won 872 votes, Labour won 874 – and Restore took 159."
Lowe hits back
But Restore Britain leader Mr Lowe hit back, insisting that his party is "just getting started". It comes as Reform had a difficult summer amid a series of rows over the party's finances.
Kemi Badenoch's Tories have overtaken Reform in some national polls, while Labour is enjoying a bounce under new leader Andy Burnham. There is ongoing speculation of an early general election, but the Prime Minister has insisted he will not go to the country this year.
