Sam Merriman

The Reform leader said he was 'disappointed' as local plumber Robert Kenyon picked up 16,000 votes - 2,000 short of predictions.

After the Greens held their fire in Makerfield, they have vowed to 'throw the kitchen sink' at the mayoral election and Mr Polanski will announce his candidate for the contest.

The Conservative Party has won its first seat at a Scottish by-election for more than half a century after pitching it as a referendum on Ed Miliband's Net Zero agenda.

Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE

Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE

The challenger to Sir Keir Starmer's leadership made a series of expensive commitments during his by-election campaign - but is yet to set out how he will fund them.

Andy Burnham is being urged to tear up Labour 's tax pledges to fund his costly spending plans.

Former home secretary Alan Johnson warned the ex-mayor of Greater Manchester against making the same 'mistake' as Gordon Brown when he took over from Tony Blair in 2007.

The former deputy prime minister insisted that benefits claimants are 'not lazy people on the dole' in a clear indication of the pressures the next prime minister will face over defence spending.

A string of polls have put Zack Polanksi's party ahead of Labour in Holborn and St Pancras, with a by-election potentially creating a serious headache for Andy Burnham.