Nigel Farage has championed a fresh Reform UK by-election victory that suggests he is set to topple a top Cabinet member at the general election. Reform swept to victory in a ward in Sunderland, with a seismic swing of 29 points away from the Labour incumbents.

Reform’s candidate won 45.2% of the vote, up by 34.3 points on the last time the ward was fought. Meanwhile Labour crashed into third place with just 22.7%, losing 24 points of support, beaten by an independent candidate who came second with 25.6%. The by-election result is bad news for Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson , who represents the Hetton ward within her Houghton and Sunderland South constituency.

'Expert’ claims Labour will be left with just 9 MPs as Reform storm to victory

Mr Farage described the win as a “

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