The result provides some relief for Starmer, whose party has suffered a steep fall in support after it raised taxes, cut welfare benefits and got into a row over donations.

Labour has no plan to stop the growing threat from Reform UK, despite opportunities provided by the ongoing turmoil within the party, insiders say. Pollsters, MPs and other senior sources warned that the party is seen as the government’s primary opposition – and Nigel Farage in particular is an “anti-politics” figurehead for a public tired of gameplay and slumps in economic growth.

But there are "some caveats". Labour won a Westminster by-election there less than two years ago with a majority of about 9,500 and triumphed at the 2024 general election by a "similar margin", but this time they "squeaked through" on a "thin margin" margin of 602 votes.