Panic stations for Keir Starmer as Reform delivers ANOTHER crushing blow to Labour with thumping electoral victory (0.00851063829787234)

<iframe frameborder="0" height="100%" scrolling="no" src="https://www.gbnews.com/res/scraper/embed/?video_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmm-v2.simplestream.com%2Fiframe%2Fplayer.php%3Fkey%3D3Li3Nt2Qs8Ct3Xq9Fi5Uy0Mb2Bj0Qs%26player%3DGB003%26uvid%3D52946788%26type%3Dvod%26viously_id%3Duxd4rCkE2-_" width="100%"></iframe><br/><p class="">Reform UK has delivered another crushing blow to the Labour Party by winning the Stocksbridge & Upper Don by-election. </p><p>The political shake-up saw Nigel Farage's party secure its first the Labour-dominated Sheffield City Council.</p><h3></h3><br/><p>John Booker returned to the council after a five year break, having previously represented West Ecclesfield ward as a Ukip councillor.</p><p>Reform UK's gain was prompted by the resignation of Julie Grocutt in May after six years as a Labour councillor.</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Nigel Farage" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5954001d650889883a0df19002a4f3b3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="40364" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/nigel-farage.jpg?id=61115146&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-latest"></div><p>Booker secured 1,789 votes, with the Liberal Democrats second on 1,597 and Labour dropping to third with 1,324 votes.</p><p>The win builds on momentum from Reform's success in Doncaster, when the party took two-thirds of the council's seats in the recent local elections.</p><p>Sheffield City Council consists of 84 councillors, elected to represent 28 wards.</p><p>It is currently under no overall control, with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party each holding chair positions in a proportionate number of committees.</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Results" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="de213cb26502383d5210d7f31b4e90b7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="8820f" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/results.png?id=61115321&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-dontmiss"></div><p>The newly elected councillor said: “I’m over the moon. I’m happy that we’ve now got an alternative voice in Sheffield City Council which it needed for a long time.</p><p>“I believe in common sense, which has left this building and it needs to come back. When I was in the building before, I used to get collared all the time for using the words common sense.</p><p>“Common sense to me is what the people think.”</p><p>“We’ve galvanised public opinion. I think the Labour Party is going the way of the Conservative Party.”</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Sir Keir Starmer" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6f0c2cf24aa820fea285a7a3af2ff060" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="b2de1" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/sir-keir-starmer.jpg?id=61115150&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><p>Despite Starmer winning a landslide election in July last year, Labour council leader Tom Hunt blamed the Starmer's Government for making the council election "challenging".</p><p>He said: “The national background always meant this was going to be a challenging election. It’s much easier for some parties who only have to stand on the sidelines – being in government means you have to take decisions."</p><p>Voters online have highlighted the breakthrough as it has implications for Barnsley and other neighbouring areas, as Reform momentum continues to sweep across the nation.</p><p>They described the seat as a "bellwether for the north".</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="John Booker" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ca0404e78d5fb0599aa5e19f3ea13a1a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="f5fd3" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/john-booker.png?id=61115330&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><p>Reacting to the landmark win, one social media user responded: "If Reform can pick up a seat in Labour-dominated Sheffield, then Manchester is very vulnerable to their challenge."</p><p>Another added: "Boom. The country has spoken again!"</p><p>A third wrote: "Great news, the first of many in Barnsley and Sheffield."</p><p>Reform UK also made a significant gain in Whitworth, securing the ward with a 47.5 per cent vote.</p><h3></h3><br/><img alt="Whitworth By-Election" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1a92678c512096fe5ce0db967f28431d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="c4cde" loading="lazy" src="https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/whitworth-by-election.png?id=61115338&width=980"/><h3></h3><br/><div class="embed-mostread"></div><h2>Full results of candidates:</h2><ul><li>John Booker, Reform UK, 1,789</li><li>Stuart Shepherd, Liberal Democrats, 1,597</li><li>Josiah Tomasz Lenton, Labour Party, 1,324</li><li>Andy Davies, Green Party, 294</li><li>Matt Dixon, Conservative Party, 332</li><li>Adam James Allcroft, Yorkshire Party, 58 votes</li><li>Claire Suzanne Wraith, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, 43 votes</li></ul><p>Turnout: 5,437 votes (36.8 per cent).</p>