First past the 50-seat post ...Reform celebrates council win milestone

NIGEL Farage celebrated yesterday as Reform UK became the first party to win more than 50 council by-elections since local polls in the summer.

- By Christian Calgie Senior Political Correspondent

Reform hit the half-century mark after two more victories on Thursday, taking one Stevenage ward from Labour and one in Thanet from an independent group to make a total of 51 Reform wins since May including 43 new seats.

The LibDems are second on 45 victories (17 gains), the Tories have won 16 seats but lost 17 while Labour has come first in 13 contests but has lost 34 seats.