Reform are poised to trigger a political explosion in local elections today as Labour and the Tories struggle to hold ground.
Nigel Farage’s insurgents are expected to make major gains on councils across England, amid a wave of disaffection with the main parties.
Reform is also hotly tipped to pick up major scalps in mayoral elections, while Keir Starmer could be humiliated by losing one of his safest Commons seats in the Runcorn & Helsby by-election.
The Conservatives fear they will be worst hit, as most of the councills being contested were last up for grabs in 2021 – Boris Johnson’s peak.
Kemi Badenoch’s party has been predicted to lose around 500 seats.
Some 23 local authorities, six mayoralties and Runcorn & Helsby are staging ballots today.
Research by More in Common earlier this week found that Reform ahead overall in the battlegrounds, with 26 per cent support.
The Conservatives were second on 25 per cent.
Labour had 18 per cent backing, the Lib Dems 17 per cent, and the Greens 8 per cent.
Runcorn – in theory one of Labour’s top 50 strongholds – looks to be on a knife edge, with Labour hoping tactical voting by Tories could save them.
Sir Keir been mocked for failing to campaign there as his personal ratings are so poor.
Experts have warned that Labour might not make any progress despite coming from a very low base of 2021 – after suffering the worst poll plunge for any newly-elected government.
The main party leaders traded blows over grooming gangs, immigration and Donald Trump in the Commons yesterday.
Ms Badenoch used PMQs to lay into Sir Keir for refusing to launch a national inquiry into ‘rape gangs’.
Mr Farage focused on Channel boats, accusing the premier of allowing in thousands of ‘young undocumented males’ from ‘alien’ countries.
Meanwhile, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey demanded MPs get a vote on any trade deal struck with the US.