Nigel Farage and Reform UK have achieved the longstanding goal of taking a parliamentary seat from the incumbent Labour government. In a photo finish Reform beat Labour by just six votes in Runcorn. While Farage's enemies will claim the narrow margin means this is a mandate not worth having, it nevertheless represents a remarkable turnaround from the huge majority Labour had last July.

To boot, Reform have won a slew of council seats, meaning Farage's redrawing of Britain's political map just passed a major milestone. But winning doesn't just bring jubilation. Expect the scrutiny on Reform to kick up a gear: with Runcorn and the council seats – plus mayoral victories – Reform will now be judged as a party of governing not just one of protest. That scrutiny is part of the package they've just won.

No doubt the knives will continue to be out for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch as well, as she fends off critics unhappy with her leading the Conservatives to third place in national polling. More talk of pacts with Reform is to be anticipated.

For Labour, despite sitting pretty until 2029, Reform's success - taking votes from both Labour and the Tories - cannot go unanswered. Expect more Rightwing noises on immigration and climate change.

Reform UK is likely to build on this success, with confidence growing about the party's ability to win big political victories. Still, with more power comes more responsibility, not to mention scrutiny.

Farage and his party have identified and exploited a gap in Britain's political market. Basking in the glory of these successes, now comes the harder part of building on these victories, maintaining authenticity and governing in the spirit of the party's ideology.