Reform beats the Conservatives in the first three declared seats

The Reform Party knocked the Conservatives into third place in the first three seats declared. Nigel Farage’s party came second in the so-called “red wall” seats and is expected to take 13 seats in total.

The first new MP was declared Bridget Phillipson, who Houghton and Sunderland South for Labour.

The results were:

Bridget Phillipson, Labor – 18,837

Sam Woods-Brass, Reform UK 11,668

Chris Burnicle, Conservative – 5,514

Paul Edgeworth, Lib Dem – 2,290

Richard Bradley, Green Party – 1,723

Next is Blyth and Ashington, which was retained by Labour, with Reform in second place. The votes were:

Ian Lavery, Labor – 20,030

Mark Peart, Reform UK – 10,857

Maureen Levy, Conservative – 6,121

Steve Leyland, Green Party – 1,960

Stephen Psallidas, Lib Dems – 1,433

And Labour’s Lewis Atkinson took his seat in Sunderland Central after receiving 16,852 votes

Reform’s Chris Enyon came second after receiving 10,779 votes.

Conservative Greg Peacock received 5,731 votes and Lib Dem Niall Hodson had 3,602 votes.

READ THE FOLLOWING:

Cornwall election results 2024 as they happen

The exit poll predicts a landslide victory for Labour

Mr Farage has already started celebrating as his reform party is set to win 13 seats in the 2024 general election.

Holding a glass of red wine, Farage addresses those gathered at a party in his honour. He is expected to win his seat at Clacton-on-Sea.

UK Reform deputy leader David Bull has called the 2024 general election a “historic moment” for his party. “I think what you’re seeing is the timid ‘reformers’ coming out in droves,” he told BBC news.

He said he believed pollsters had been “caught off guard” and it would be “extraordinary” if Reform UK won 13 seats tonight.

Lee Taylor, the UK Reform candidate for Richmond and Northallerton, could be seen wandering the floor of the election count wearing his party’s light blue rosette.

Mr Taylor told the PA news agency he always expected to come “second from the start” behind incumbent Rishi Sunak, describing the constituency contest as a “me and Rishi race”.

“Labour has never had so many votes in this constituency. When insurgent parties like mine or Ukip come in, they normally beat Labor here,” he said, casting doubt on poll estimates of Labour’s chances.

The Reform candidate added: “The way Reform UK wins is if Tory voters turn to Reform UK.

“It could happen, but as you know, it’s not just about issues and politics, it’s also about trust, and so by using quick elections, it’s been harder for me to gain that trust.”

Mr Taylor also spoke of his new means of campaigning even in the “far reaches of the constituency”, telling the PA that a van had been “styled and designed” with megaphones on board and Reform branding to convey his the election message in that part of North Yorkshire.

See all results and updates for Cornwall and nationally on our live blog here.