Reform has won another stunning victory by taking control of Staffordshire County Council in a huge blow to the Conservatives and Kemi Badenoch. In a stark reversal of fortune, the Conservatives previously ran the council with 53 of the 62 seats, making them far and away the biggest party.

But even though some of the votes are still being counted, it is now clear that Reform has taken control. The local authority said in a statement: “Reform UK has taken control of Staffordshire County Council. There are still more results to be declared, but Reform UK has won the 32 seats needed for a majority."

It comes as Reform is also thought to be doing well in other council elections including Durham, where it is said to be taking votes from Labour.

Staffordshire is a “middle England” county with a number of marginal parliamentary seats that have switched between Labour and Conservative, helping decide the outcome of general elections. These include Lichfield, Cannock and Tamworth.

Ken Owen, chairman of Reform UK in Newcastle-under-Lyme, told the BBC it was “a remarkable night, not only for Reform UK candidates, but I think the people of Staffordshire have sent a message to the current sort of administration".

He added: “Reform UK have got a strong team of people behind the scenes, and I’m sure we’ll be talking about that over the next day or two."

The Conservatives previously controlled the council with 53 seats, with Labour on five and four independents. But Reform now has 32 and the Tories have just seven.

It will be the first time Reform UK has run a council.

Earlier on Friday, Nigel Farage’s party secured victory in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes over Labour. At the same time, a former Tory minister became the party’s first elected mayor.

In one of the closest parliamentary contests ever, new MP Sarah Pochin took the seat Labour won with a majority of almost 14,700 less than a year ago.

The result came as Reform made gains against both Labour and the Conservatives across England in local votes, with Mr Farage claiming a “big moment” was taking place in UK politics.

Former Conservative minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns was elected for Reform UK as the first Greater Lincolnshire mayor with a majority of almost 40,000 over her former party.