For the first time, Reform UK will defend two seats in key by-elections happening up and down the country, as Nigel Farage's party look to hold the seats it gained in May.

With voting scheduled for July 2 and 3, Reform will be hoping its candidates for Benfieldside in Durham and Newark West in Nottinghamshire will keep the area turquoise.

Nine by-elections are scheduled across the UK, including two areas in North Tyneside and Fulham Town in Hammersmith, London.

The Conservatives are set to defend three areas, with Labour, the Lib Dems and Reform all defending two.

Nine by-elections are scheduled to take place this week

Reform won the Benfieldside position with 32 per cent of the vote, beating Labour, which achieved 27 per cent.

Andrew Kilburn won the seat, but he resigned as a Reform councillor after failing to declare that he worked for the local authority.

Kilburn secured 1,007 votes alongside fellow Reform candidate Sandra Grindle, which saw the party gain seats from Labour and the independents.

Stephen Harrison will stand for Farage's party now, going up against five other candidates.

Reform Councillor Desmond Clark secured a seat on the Newark West Division of Nottinghamshire County Council in May, claiming 36 per cent of the vote.

However, following his resignation, the baton has been passed to Caroline Hinds to secure the seat for the populist party.

Hinds said: "I am patriotic, compassionate and sincere - my family, community and country mean everything to me.

"Working as a primary school teacher for 20 years (with experience in SEND), I was committed to giving children the best possible start, and I consider it extremely valuable experience for a County Councillor."

Nigel Farage's party are leading the way in the polls

Reform UK continue to lead the way in the polls, with the latest YouGov figures polling Reform with 26 per cent of the vote.

Labour would claim 23 per cent with the Tories slumped in third, having just 17 per cent of the vote.

The right-wing party secured 10 of the 23 councils that were up for grabs back in May, with eight of them being taken from the Conservatives.

Reform claimed 677 seats when the local elections concluded, with Labour losing 99 seats.