Reform UK leader claims his party is now the ‘real opposition’ to Labour

Reform UK is emerging as the “real opposition” to Labour in large parts of the country, the party’s leader has claimed.

Despite failing to gain any councillors in local elections so far, Richard Tice was bullish about his party’s performance at Thursday’s polls and said it was “clear that the Tories are on the way down”.

Responding to the Reform UK candidate coming a close third to his Conservative counterpart in by-election, Mr Tice told the BBC he was delighted his party had secured 17% of the vote.