‘This, folks, is huge’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has hailed the prospect of a “huge” General Election result as an early surge by the party pushed the Tories into third place in four constituencies, reports PA.
The party had an early boost as they polled second, ahead of the Conservatives in Houghton and Sunderland South, Sunderland Central, Washington and Gateshead South and Blyth and Ashington. The party is set to win 13 seats, according to the exit poll for BBC, Sky and ITV.
The party, which was only formed in 2018, currently only has one MP, Lee Anderson, who defected from the Conservatives. More victories would mark the the first time Reform have managed to secure an MP at the ballot box.
Mr Farage had earlier declined to say what number of MPs they would classify as a win, but 13 elected representatives is higher than predictions by most polls. On a video posted to X, he said:
It’s midnight, there are two results in from the north east of England that put Reform on 30% of the vote, that is way more than any possible prediction or projection. It is almost unbelievable. And what does it mean? It means we’re going to win seats, many many seats I think right now across the country.”
He added:
This is going to be six million votes plus. This folks is huge.”
The clip was captioned: ‘The revolt against the establishment is under way’.
