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  "path": "/politics/reform-election-keir-starmer-labour-salford-manchester-nigel-farage",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-23T12:02:31.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Membership",
    "Keir Starmer messaged Lord Mandelson the night before US ambassador announcement",
    "Reform UK plans to scrap 'gold-plated' public sector pensions for new workers",
    "SNP vows to work with Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein to rip up United Kingdom forever",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nReform UK struck an election hammerblow to Keir Starmer in a Labour heartland council by-election yesterday.\n\nVoters in Salford headed to the polls yesterday to vote for their next councillor to take the Barton and Winton seat.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nReform UK came out on top, taking 34.9 per cent of the vote, despite never running for the position previously.\n\nMichael Felse, Reform UK’s candidate, will be the party’s first councillor on the Salford City Council.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nReform’s leader, Nigel Farage took to social media to celebrate the result.\n\nWriting on X, he said: “A huge win for Reform in Salford last night.\n\n“The Labour vote dropped by 30 points.\n\n“This is the best sign yet!”\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nPreviously a Labour-held seat, the vacancy became available after the death of David Lancaster MBE in February, who was one of England’s longest serving councillors, having been first elected to Eccles Council in 1965 at 21-years-old.\n\nPaul Dennett, Salford City Mayor said following the passing of Cllr Lancaster MBE: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Councillor David Lancaster MBE, a true stalwart of Salford's Labour Party and lifelong trade unionist, whose contribution to our city spans an extraordinary 60 years of public service.\n\n“His dedication, consistency and sense of duty shaped our city across generations, epitomised by a strong work ethic, collective responsibility, a strong public sector ethos and relentless commitment to Salford, its residents, families, children and young people and diverse communities.”\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Keir Starmer messaged Lord Mandelson the night before US ambassador announcement\n  * Reform UK plans to scrap 'gold-plated' public sector pensions for new workers\n  * SNP vows to work with Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein to rip up United Kingdom forever\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nLabour came in second, taking 33.2 per cent of the vote, down 29.1 percentage points since the last election in 2024.\n\nThe Green Party took 18.7 per cent, up 4 percentage points since the previous election.\n\nComing in fourth was the Conservatives, with 6.1 per cent of the vote, down 8.2 percentage points since 2024.\n\nSecond to last was the Liberal Democrats, taking just 4.9 per cent (down 3.8 percentage points) and finally, an Independent took 2.3 per cent.\n\n### FULL RESULTS IN BARTON AND WINTON:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  * Reform UK, Michael James Felse: 676 votes\n  * Labour Party, Catherine Goodyer: 643 votes\n  * Green Party, Jack Groom: 363 votes\n  * Conservative Party, Holly Ann Muldoon: 118 votes\n  * Liberal Democrats, Antony Ian Duke: 94 votes\n  * Independent, Kirsty Anne Downie: 44 votes\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTotal votes cast were 1,941 (three rejections included), with a low turnout of 17.8 per cent.\n\nThe Barton & Winton seat within Salford City Council is controlled by Labour.\n\nIt sits within the Worsley and Eccles South constituency, represented by Labour MP Michael Wheeler.\n\nAfter being a councillor for Salford City Council on-and-off since 2011, Mr Wheeler ran in the 2024 General Election and won by an 11,091 majority.\n\nThe aggregated data of all local elections held in 2025-2026 (so far) shows that Reform UK has won the most seats of any party, taking 82 council seats, a gain of 66, with 27.5 per cent of the vote, up 23.2 points compared to the previous 12 months.\n\nLabour has lost 54 seats, now with just 17 and saw its vote share drop 11.8 points to 14.8 per cent.\n\nThe Conservatives lost 22 seats, currently with 29, with their vote share falling 8.9 points to 16.6 per cent.\n\nHowever, the Liberal Democrats gained 20 seats to reach 64, with their vote share edging up 1.9 points to 18.7 per cent.\n\nThe Greens have so far gained 5 seats to reach 20, with their vote share up 1.1 points to 10.8 per cent.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "'Best sign yet!' Reform strike election hammerblow to Keir Starmer in Labour heartland"
}