Local elections LIVE: Nigel Farage issues update as Reform tipped for massive wins

Nigel Farage declared the Tories and Labour are "more fearful of the results tonight than we are" after the polls closed in local elections and the Runcorn by-election.

Reform UK is tipped to win three key mayoral elections as voters delivered their verdicts on Labour and the Conservatives. Nigel Farage's party is the favourite to win in Doncaster, Greater Lincolnshire and Hull & East Yorkshire.

And Mr Farage on Thursday night thanked voters for backing his party, adding: "Thank you for voting Reform. We have fought a strong campaign. The two major parties are more fearful of the results tonight than we are."

The Liberal Democrats believe they have made "big gains" in the Conservative heartlands of 'Middle England'.

Labour, meanwhile, has admitted it was "always going to be a challenge", after numerous scandals and controversies during their first year of Government.

The Conservatives, who are braced for a disastrous set of results, insisted they are trying to forge a new path under Kemi Badenoch, but said Sir Keir Starmer could be under huge pressure if Labour does not make significant gains.

It comes as a total of 1,641 council seats are up for grabs across 23 town halls in today's local elections, while four regional mayors and two local mayors will be elected.

William Kedjanyi, Political Betting Analyst at Star Sports, said: "All eyes are on Reform UK to see how many of today's six mayoral elections they can win. Four existing mayoralties and two new ones are up for grabs, and we think Nigel Farage's party will claim three - priced at 4/5.

"Olympic champion boxer Luke Campbell is expected to deal his rivals a knockout blow in Hull & East Yorkshire (1/5), while Andrea Jenkyns already looks to have one foot in the door in Greater Lincolnshire at immensely short odds of 1/20. Labour candidate Ros Jones (2/1) could challenge Reform's Alexander Jones (1/2) in Doncaster, however."

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