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Reform UK is celebrating its best-ever by-election result after it snatched 13% of the vote share in the previously safe Tory seat of Wellingborough.
The party, which was first founded in 2018 as the Brexit Party and is now led by Richard Tice, said the result was “remarkable” for a “resurgent party”.
Reform‘s candidate, Ben Habib, came third in the Wellingborough by-election, which Labour won with a majority of 6,436 votes.
Speaking to Sky News after the result came in, Mr Habib said people were “absolutely fed up with the manner in which this country is being governed”.
He pointed to the UK entering a recession, record debt, and record high taxation.
“We need a complete, 180-degree handbrake turn in the manner in which this country is being governed, and I think the people are waking up to that,” he said.
By-election results live: Rishi Sunak claims there’s not a ‘huge amount of enthusiasm’ for Labour wins
The Tories have sought to temper the threat posed by Reform, with Rishi Sunak arguing a vote for the party was “a vote to put Keir Starmer in power”.
Asked if he was concerned about Reform UK’s results, the prime minister said: “A vote for anyone who isn’t the Conservative candidate, whether that’s Reform or anyone else, is just a vote to put Keir Starmer in power.
“That’s the actual choice at the general election, between me and him, between the Conservatives and Labour.
“Now I believe our plan is working.”
‘Tory party utterly useless’
But Mr Habib hit back at that claim, saying: “The only reason Labour win, if Labour win, is because the Tory party is utterly…
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