BREAKING: Keir Starmer responds to by-election defeat to Nigel Farage's Reform UK - 'disappointing'

Keir Starmer has said Labour's defeat in a key by-election is "disappointing" - but said he is determined to go "further and faster" in delivering change.

In his first public comments on the loss to Reform UK, the PM told voters: "What I want to say is, my response is we get it. We were elected in last year to bring about change."

He added Labour have "started that work" with changes such as reductions in waiting lists, and he went on: "I am determined that we will go further and faster on the change that people want to see."

His remarks came as Labour was dealt a major blow just after 6am - losing the by-election in Runcorn and Helsby by just six votes after a dramatic recount. In one of the closest parliamentary votes ever, new Reform MP Sarah Pochin took the seat which won with a majority of almost 14,700 less than a year ago.

But the PM came under fire from Labour MPs urging him to change course after a series of unpopular decisions hit the party's ratings. Labour MP Brian Leishman wrote on /X that the first months of the new Government "haven't been good enough". He said: "Runcorn shows Labour must change course. People voted for real change last July & an end to austerity. The first 10 months haven’t been good enough or what the people want & if we don’t improve people’s living standards then the next government will be an extreme right wing one."

Veteran posted: "Labour leadership seems to think that the answer to these catastrophic election results is more of the same, including cuts to winter fuel payments."

Ros Jones, the Mayor of Doncaster, also warned the PM "needs to listen" to voters. Moments after she won with a paper-thin majority of just 698 over Reform, she told the : "I think national government needs to look and see what people are saying."

She continued: "I wrote as soon as the winter fuel allowance was actually mooted, and I said it was wrong, and therefore I stepped in immediately and used our household support fund to ensure no-one in Doncaster went cold during the winter. I think the results here tonight demonstrate that they need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street and actually deliver for the people, with the people."

Around 22 of the 23 council elections being contested only started counting at 9am, which means many of the results are still yet to come. And Tory leader is bracing for a bloodbath with hundreds of Conservative councillors set to lose their seats to both Reform UK and the .

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