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       Nigel Farage braces a for huge test (Image: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

       With the announcement that former magistrate Sarah Pochin will be Reform UK's candidate in the all-important Runcorn by election, how important is the vote for leader Nigel Farage? Although the by election - expected to coincide with May's local elections - has Reform tipped to win, Farage has sought to manage expectations.

       This makes sense. Although the vote will test how genuine Reform's poll numbers really are and offer the chance to put the Rupert Lowe row behind the party, Farage's enemies both within and without will pounce if Reform loses. In truth, falling just short of victory but still closing the 15,000-odd-majority Labour achieved last July would still be a massive achievement. Yet expectations are high.

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       Nigel Farage set to make huge election announcement at 1pm

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       I was at PMQs - here's my translation of what (I think) waffling Keir Starmer meant to say

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       Bombshell poll shows Reform winning local elections - until Angela Rayner cancelled them

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       Nigel Farage 'horrified' as Reform devastated by civil war with party split in two

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       New poll reveals Labour is the ‘anti-fun' party that loves to ban things people enjoy

       64 Comments

       Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves dealt huge new poll blow

       36 Comments

       Reform's new by-election candidate wastes no time with savage 3-word swipe at Keir Starmer

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       Nigel Farage named most popular alternative to Keir Starmer as PM in bombshell poll

       119 Comments

       Nigel Farage could be pulling No10's strings already without even being in power yet

       57 Comments

       Nigel Farage set to make huge election announcement at 1pm

       94 Comments

       Nigel Farage blasts Kemi Badenoch's 'comical' local election promise

       99 Comments

       I was at PMQs - here's my translation of what (I think) waffling Keir Starmer meant to say

       98 Comments

       Furious Tories accuse Nigel Farage of 'sham announcement' over Reform defections

       110 Comments

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       81 Comments

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       Labour won't be resting easy either and Farage knows it. While Reform is primarily seen as a challenger to the Tories, Farage's party is a major threat to Labour as well, not least in northern seats like Runcorn.

       Sir Keir Starmer's party will see Runcorn as a must-win, with a victory for Reform a huge blow to the PM's authority as he seeks to push through unpopular budget plans and faces rebellion on the backbenches.

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       And though the Tories are without a hope of winning,a decent showing could at least strengthen under-fire leader Kemi Badenoch's authority as Reform pushes her party into third place in national polling.

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       Nigel Farage set to make huge election announcement at 1pm

       94 Comments

       Nigel Farage blasts Kemi Badenoch's 'comical' local election promise

       99 Comments

       I was at PMQs - here's my translation of what (I think) waffling Keir Starmer meant to say

       98 Comments

       Furious Tories accuse Nigel Farage of 'sham announcement' over Reform defections

       110 Comments

       Bombshell poll shows Reform winning local elections - until Angela Rayner cancelled them

       81 Comments

       Keir Starmer in trouble as Nigel Farage and Dominic Cummings hold secret meeting

       130 Comments

       Reform unveils Sarah Pochin as by-election candidate for Runcorn and Helsby

       252 Comments

       Fresh Nigel Farage clash with Rupert Lowe as explosive texts leaked

       Comments

       Nigel Farage predicts how many seats Reform will win in local elections ahead of rally

       357 Comments

       The UK town where almost everyone votes Labour but even here people have had enough

       82 Comments

       Kemi Badenoch warns Tories face 'extremely difficult' local elections

       83 Comments

       Richard Tice claims Reform UK would not exist without him as party's row deepens

       84 Comments

       Nigel Farage 'horrified' as Reform devastated by civil war with party split in two

       610 Comments

       New poll reveals Labour is the ‘anti-fun' party that loves to ban things people enjoy

       64 Comments

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       36 Comments

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       392 Comments

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       Keir Starmer annihilated by GB News star as she issues damning four-word verdict

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       Nigel Farage named most popular alternative to Keir Starmer as PM in bombshell poll

       119 Comments

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       57 Comments

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       Undo

       Nigel Farage set to make huge election announcement at 1pm

       94 Comments

       Nigel Farage blasts Kemi Badenoch's 'comical' local election promise

       99 Comments

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       Undo

       I was at PMQs - here's my translation of what (I think) waffling Keir Starmer meant to say

       98 Comments

       Furious Tories accuse Nigel Farage of 'sham announcement' over Reform defections

       110 Comments

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       Undo

       Bombshell poll shows Reform winning local elections - until Angela Rayner cancelled them

       81 Comments

       Keir Starmer in trouble as Nigel Farage and Dominic Cummings hold secret meeting

       130 Comments

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       Undo

       Reform unveils Sarah Pochin as by-election candidate for Runcorn and Helsby

       252 Comments

       Fresh Nigel Farage clash with Rupert Lowe as explosive texts leaked

       Comments

       What to Know About Taltz for Psoriatic Arthritis: Dosing, Side Effects, and MoreGoodRx| Sponsored Sponsored

       Learn More

       Undo

       Nigel Farage predicts how many seats Reform will win in local elections ahead of rally

       357 Comments

       The UK town where almost everyone votes Labour but even here people have had enough

       82 Comments

       MD: Building Muscle After 60 Comes Down To This 1 ThingApex Labs| Sponsored Sponsored

       Undo

       Kemi Badenoch warns Tories face 'extremely difficult' local elections

       83 Comments

       Richard Tice claims Reform UK would not exist without him as party's row deepens

       84 Comments

       Discover Effortless Glucose Monitoring : Request a Free TrialDexcom| Sponsored Sponsored

       Try Now

       Undo

       Nigel Farage 'horrified' as Reform devastated by civil war with party split in two

       610 Comments

       New poll reveals Labour is the ‘anti-fun' party that loves to ban things people enjoy

       64 Comments

       Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves dealt huge new poll blow

       36 Comments

       Reform's new by-election candidate wastes no time with savage 3-word swipe at Keir Starmer

       392 Comments

       Keir Starmer annihilated by GB News star as she issues damning four-word verdict

       Comments

       New polling breakthrough for Reform UK ahead of elections

       710 Comments

       Nigel Farage named most popular alternative to Keir Starmer as PM in bombshell poll

       119 Comments

       Nigel Farage could be pulling No10's strings already without even being in power yet

       57 Comments

       Nigel Farage set to make huge election announcement at 1pm

       94 Comments

       Nigel Farage blasts Kemi Badenoch's 'comical' local election promise

       99 Comments

       I was at PMQs - here's my translation of what (I think) waffling Keir Starmer meant to say

       98 Comments

       Furious Tories accuse Nigel Farage of 'sham announcement' over Reform defections

       110 Comments

       Bombshell poll shows Reform winning local elections - until Angela Rayner cancelled them

       81 Comments

       Keir Starmer in trouble as Nigel Farage and Dominic Cummings hold secret meeting

       130 Comments

       Reform unveils Sarah Pochin as by-election candidate for Runcorn and Helsby

       252 Comments

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       Runcorn then is a big deal for all main party leaders. With all major candidates now declared, expect a tough and robust campaign with Reform looking to capitalise on recent polling.

       Expect immigration, and law and order, to figure heavily in the campaign, with much made of Reform candidate Sarah Pochin's magistrate background. Though local issues will be front and centre, the backdrop is a national picture where Reform is upping the ante and shaking the status quo.