Huge pressure on Tories to MERGE with Reform and Nigel Farage will be thorn in the side of every party, warn our experts

OUR experts have weighed in on a seismic night in politics in a live Never Mind the Ballots election special.

While analysing the night’s biggest stories, Political Editor Harry Cole discussed how Reform had taken just four seats on 14.3 per cent of the vote.

Ian Whittaker

Reuters

Scarlett Maguire, director of polling firm JL Partners, said there is now huge pressure on the Tories to merge with Reform.

While Political Correspondent Noa Hofman argued Nigel Farage will be a thorn in the side of every party.

Scarlett was asked if the Conservative Party would be able to compete with Reform.

She replied: “I think that’s one of the things we started to hear over night.

“There’s going to be four of them and they are quite big personalities in Parliament.

“The Tory leadership contest might well be very drawn out. You might even see some people go over sooner.”

Reform won four seats, with Farage joined by former Tory Lee Anderson, party chairman Richard Tice and former Southampton FC chairman Rupert Lowe in being elected to Parliament.

After winning in Clacton, Farage said “we’re coming for Labour, be in no doubt about that”.

Noa added: “Nigel Farage will shake up the Commons. He’ll be a thorn in the side of every party.

“I think there are elements of Reform’s policies that appeal to voters across the board.”

Sir Keir Starmer declared “we did it” after a Labour landslide put him on course to be the next prime minister.

At a victory rally in central London, Sir Keir said the country could now “get its future back”.

On a historic night:

• Labour has reached the required 326 seats in a Tory wipeout
• Piers Morgan told our Never Mind The Ballots election show that Sir Keir MUST deliver after the Tory disaster
• A battle for the soul of the Conservative party is already underway
• Rishi Sunak has admitted defeat and said he has called Sir Keir
• He is expected to meet with King Charles later today
• Sir Keir told supporters “we did it!”
• But ex-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps became the first Tory big beast to lose out
• He was followed by Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt, one of eight Cabinet ministers have lost their seats
• Former PM Liz Truss also loses her seat
• Tory defector Lee Anderson claimed the first Reform seat. He was followed by Nigel Farage, who has become an MP for the first time at the eighth attempt
• Mr Farage warned Labour “will be in trouble very, very quickly”

But Scarlett argued: “About 80 per cent of Britain won’t have cast a vote for Labour.”

Tory leader Rishi Sunak conceded defeat after a “sobering” night for his party which saw predecessor Liz Truss and a record 11 Cabinet ministers lose their seats.

At his acceptance speech after being re-elected in Richmond and Northallerton, Mr Sunak said: “I take responsibility for the loss.”

The result is likely to trigger a fresh round of infighting within the Tory party as MPs scramble to replace Mr Sunak, who is expected to resign in the wake of the defeat.

In Wales, the Tories were wiped out, while in Scotland Labour were rampant.

Ian Whittaker

PA

AFP