In just over a week, we will get some signs of how well Reform UK is tapping into fertile public discontent.

With widespread dissatisfaction about the direction of the country and the performance of the Labour Government, many voters are looking for change. Of course, most people do not bother voting in local elections but given national polls putting the parties neck and neck, even to a jaded pollster like me, the local elections and Runcorn by-election have heightened interest.