Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer insisted “we get it” but insisted there would be no change of approach despite devastating election losses. He admitted Labour’s defeat in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election was “disappointing”.

The Prime Minister said Labour will go “further and faster on the change that people want to see” in the wake of the overnight election results. He told reporters: “What I want to say is, my response is we get it. We were elected last year to bring about change.”

He said that his party have “started that work” with changes such as reductions in NHS waiting lists. He added: “I am determined that we will go further and faster on the change that people want to see.”

Sir Keir was visiting a drone factory in the South-east as he sought to focus on “business as usual” following the Runcorn and Helsby by-election and local polls in England.

It was his first response to Reform UK’s narrow win in the parliamentary seat won by Labour with a majority of almost 14,700 less than a year ago.

Nigel Farage’s party also made inroads against both Labour and the Conservatives across England in local elections. Reform also gained its first mayor in Greater Lincolnshire.

Elsewhere, Labour held on to mayoralties in both Doncaster and North Tyneside, with Reform coming a close second in both contests.

Sir Keir was not the only party leader under pressure. Asked on BBC Breakfast if Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s position was secure after the local election results, party co-chairman Nigel Huddleston said: “Kemi’s position is certainly solid.

“She’s only been leader for six months and she was out and about right across the country, and I can tell you this, everywhere we went, people wanted to see her more and hear more from her.”

Pressed on his use of the word “solid”, Mr Huddleston said: “I say that in a really positive way.

“She’s very sensible, she’s very honest, she’s very straightforward.

“She doesn’t go around telling people what they want to hear. That’s the easy route in politics.”

Mr Farage said on Friday: “It’s been a big night for us.

“We’ve dug very deep into the Labour vote and, in other parts of England, we’ve dug deep into the Conservative vote and we are now, after tonight there’s no question, in most of the country, we are now the main opposition party to this Government.”