Andy Burnham dealt another by-election blow just hours after Nigel Farage cruises to Clacton win

Andy Burnham has been dealt a further by-election blow - aside from Clacton- with the Liberal Democrats flipping a council seat from Labour, as well as another from Reform UK.

The Lib Dems saw success in Devon and in Yorkshire, in a boost for Sir Ed Davey's party, who have flatlined in recent polls after being leapfrogged by Reform and the Greens.

Reacting to the results, Sir Ed said: "Miles away from Farage’s stunt in Clacton, Liberal Democrats are beating Labour in Devon and Reform in Yorkshire. Stunning victories for hard working liberals - who turned up to their counts!"

The People's Channel has dissected the two by elections and what they mean for the state of the parties.

Hointon St Michael's (East Devon)

Firstly, on East Devon Council, Rhys Wallis emerged victorious for the Liberal Democrats, taking the Hointon St Michael's ward once held by former Labour councillor Violet Bonetta.

Mr Wallis won the by-election with 727 votes, with a majority of 326 over Reform UK’s Humphrey Clemens, who received 401 votes.

Conservatives candidate Paul Carter received 326 votes, independent Jo Fotheringham 74, Labour’s Jack Stacey 55, with independent candidate John Taylor getting just 19.

A total of 1,602 ballot papers were issued from an electorate of 5,583, producing a turnout of 28.7 per cent, with zero ballots rejected.

Speaking to the Midweek Herald, the Liberal Democrat said: "I want to thank all of those who did turn out and back me in this campaign, but also everybody who turned out to vote in this by-election.

"Honiton has had quite a few elections in recent years, so it’s good to see people turning out to express their democratic views.

"I am a Liberal Democrat, but I will try and represent everyone in Honiton St Michael’s to the best of my ability."

At Westminster, the newly-created Honiton and Sidmouth constituency is represented by former Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Richard Foord, who won the seat at the 2024 General Election with a majority of 6,700 over journalist-turned-Conservative MP for East Devon, Simon Jupp.

Since 2019, the council has been under no overall control, run by a coalition of the Greens, Liberal Democrats and Independent councillors.

Almondbury (Kirklees)

In a blow for Reform UK in Yorkshire, Sir Ed Davey's party emerged victorious in a by-election in Almondbury, which was called after Craig Wiles confirmed would be standing down from his role due to "health".

Victorious Lib Dem candidate Paola Davies got 1749 votes, defeating Reform's Graham Haigh with a majority of 671.

The Conservatives finished third, with Robert William Anthony McGuin securing 528 votes. The Green Party's Sa'Dia Mosaddeq received 347 votes, while Labour's Navraj Singh Hare polled 181.

Independent candidate Marquis Craven finished sixth with 103 votes.

Councillor Davies said: "What I would like most is to bring the positive message back for Almondbury.

"A lot of the candidates who've come in from outside of Almondbury to campaign, campaigned on a really negative 'Almondbury needs fixing, Almondbury needs sorting out'.

"I know Almondbury, I've been there for seven years already, there are some fantastic things going on, some fantastic things being done. It has its problems, yes, there's more that can be done. I'd like to go back to what I was doing before, and build on it."

While the result strengthens the Lib Dem presence on Kirklees Council, Reform remains the largest party, technically it remains in no overall control, with the party's Sarah Wood as council leader.

Labour's Harpreet Uppal won the corresponding Huddersfield seat at the 2024 General Election, beating Green Party candidate Andrew Cooper with a majority of 4,533.