Nigel Farage rejoiced as Reform UK won three council seats in England last night, hailing one result as "epic". The party claimed by-election gains in Essex's Frinton ward last night, with Anne Davis becoming a new councillor for Tendring District Council and Fiona Ann Knowles winning the Frinton and Walton Town Council seat.

This was an expectations defying win for Labour in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election over the SNP, after winning the seat with a 602 majority. It is a huge boost both for PM Sir Keir Starmer - who did not campaign in Hamilton - after a brutal 11 months and for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar ahead of next year's Holyrood

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has been dealt a major blow after the party’s chairman resigned following a row over banning the burka. Zia Yusuf announced on Thursday that he was quitting the role he has held for almost a year.