Rise of Reform reflects deepening disillusion

The polls had predicted it, but Reform's success in last week's elections still came as a major blow to the UK's two biggest parties - and a worrying sign of where British politics could be going.

- Ian Swanson

As well as winning the by-election in the previously safe Labour seat of Runcorn and Helsby, Reform took control of 10 of the 23 councils where elections were being held, while the Tories lost all 16 which they had previously held and Labour lost the one they controlled. Reform also won two of the mayoral contests.

There are the usual caveats about low turnout and by-elections being used for a protest vote, and it's also worth noting there were no elections in Scotland, Wales or large parts of England.