Nigel Farage defies polling doubters as Reform score double by-election victory over Andy Burnham

Nigel Farage has been handed a major boost to Reform UK, with the party securing a triple victory in this week's by-elections.

Labour lost two seats to Mr Farage's candidates, but defended one and gained another from an Independent candidate.

The triple gain comes at a difficult time for Reform UK after falling behind Labour and the Conservatives in recent polls.

GB News takes a closer look at the results breakdown of the six by-elections and what it means for Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Croft Baker (North East Lincolnshire)

In North East Lincolnshire, Reform UK's Melissa Jade Grice gained from Labour with almost 50 per cent of the vote.

The by-election was called in the Croft Baker ward after Labour councillor Marian Jervis resigned.

Labour candidate Janet Elizabeth Mager came second with 36.3 per cent of the vote, with Restore Britain taking third place for the first time in the ward.

Restore candidate Matthew Branson took almost eight per cent of the vote at the ballot box.

Failsworth West (Oldham)

In the Failsworth West ward in Oldham, Reform UK secured a second by-election victory with more than 40 per cent of the vote.

The by-election was triggered by Reform councillor Mark Wilkinson resigning just days after he became Reform's leader on the Oldham Council.

Gaining from the Independents, Reform candidate Chris Baddeley won the ward, with Labour candidate Pete Davis taking second place.

Mr Davis took almost 39 per cent of the vote, leading in front of Restore Britain candidate Rob Gunn.

In another new ward for the party, Mr Gunn received 11.3 per cent of the vote.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Andy Burnham eyes EU reset as PM claims new Brexit deal could deliver 'what voters wanted in 2016'
• 100 rebel Labour MPs prepared to fight Andy Burnham over North Sea drilling
• Britain to 'adopt EU law every 12 hours' under Andy Burnham Brexit reset, peers warn

Cheddleton (Staffordshire Moorlands)

In the Cheddleton ward in the Staffordshire Moorlands, Reform UK claimed its third by-election victory, taking home more than 35 per cent of the vote.

The resignation of Labour councillor Dylan Pascall resulted in the by-election being triggered.

Reform UK candidate Su Beardmore took the gain from Labour, storming ahead of the Conservatives who placed second in the ballot.

Tory candidate Rob Bateman received 26.3 per cent of the vote, with Labour's Martin David Sadler taking third place with less than 20 per cent of the vote.

Hindley Green (Wigan)

In the Hindley Green ward in Wigan, Labour gained from Independent, securing a victory for Prime Minister Andy Burnham with almost 50 per cent of the vote.

After previously winning a landslide vote of 52.3 per cent in the ward's most recent election, Reform UK's Bonnie Clarke secured second place.

Ms Clarke received 36.6 per cent of the vote, creating a vast gap between Reform and the Independent candidate, who came third with just 5.1 per cent.

Mark Prescott's third place was closely followed by Restore Britain candidate Rebecca Lee Shepherd with 4.4 per cent of the vote.

Huncoat (Hyndburn)

A by-election in the Huncoat ward of Hyndburn saw victory for Labour's candidate Jackie Rawstron, holding the ward.

The ballot was called following to the death of Labour councillor Dave Parkins.

Ms Rawstron secured more than 30 per cent of the vote, with Reform UK's Anna Stanislawska taking second place.

Ms Stanislawska won 29.8 per cent of the vote, tightly followed by Restore Britain in third place at 27.8 per cent.

Bosmere (Suffolk)

In Bosmere, the Conservatives secured a victory with their candidate Kay Maxine Nadjina Oakes, gaining from Reform UK.

Councillor Gary Keogh's resignation sparked the by-election in Suffolk.

Ms Oakes won the ballot with 33.2 per cent of the vote, but just one per cent behind her was Green Party candidate Adria Lee Pittock, taking second place.

Reform UK plummeted to third place in the by-election, winning less than 20 per cent of the vote with their candidate Patrick Alexander Wegener.