Reform pose 'real threat to Labour'

Scotish Tory doesn't see 'appeal of Farage'

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REFORM UK is “a real threat” to Labour and is being treated as a “serious opposition force” after the party’s successes in local elections, Wes Streeting has said.

Labour and the Conservatives are under pressure to reverse their parties’ fortunes after Reform picked up 10 councils and more than 600 seats in Thursday's polls.

Nigel Farage, whose party also gained an MP in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, hailed the results as the end of two-party politics.

Health Secretary Mr Streeting said Reform UK is “definitely a real threat and one that we take seriously.”

He told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “I think there’s clearly, on the right of British politics, a realignment taking place.

“It’s not yet clear whether at the next general election it will be Reform or the Conservatives that are Labour's main challenges, but we've got to take that threat seriously.

“In that spirit, I think Reform does deserve more air time and scrutiny of their policies.”

He said he treats Mr Farage’s party as a “serious opposition force”